The Real “Four Lions” Story
Words by Eby Daji
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The Real “Four Lions” Story
The Real “Four Lions” Story
In 2010, director Chris Morris released "Four Lions" starring Riz Ahmed, a satirical dark comedy that humorously explores the complexities of terrorism and radicalization. While the film does not directly depict the specific events of the 7/7 bombings from five years prior, seemingly detached from reality, it explores the underlying motivations, societal context, and the flawed thinking that can lead individuals down a path of radicalization. The film heavily draws inspiration from the four men who perpetrated the real-life attacks.
Yorkshire is the setting of Four Lions. It is known as the home of Leeds United, for Yorkshire tea, and for the Bronte sisters. Locally, it is known as “God’s own country” for its green countryside, however, it has in recent years became known to some as the breeding ground for the perpetrators of the fatal 2005 7/7 London bombings. On 7th July 2005, four men, aged 18, 19, 22, and 30, travelled from Leeds to Luton, before jumping on a train to London where they detonated three devices on the underground and one on a bus, killing 52 people and injuring 770. Apparently, previously unknown to MI5, who referred to them as “clearskins” (an MI5 term for those who were previously under the radar with no know terrorist links), the group was led by the 30-year-old Pakistani-British Mohammad Sidique Khan, who local residents later explained was seen as a ‘father-figure’ by the youngsters in the Muslim community, much like Riz Ahmed’s character Omar. This is more than just their story; it’s the story of the aftermath, how the British Asian community had to pick up the metaphorical pieces following the explosions and how government measures fell short of tackling the issue, something it itself admitted earlier this year in 2023.
