Reports are streaming in of a number of explosions on the Tube system and buses in central London. There's very little in the way of hard fact and an awful lot of speculation at present, as is usual in a major incident, but it appears London is the subject of a 'Madrid Style' co-ordinated terror attack. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659093.stm Is the lead story on the BBC site at the moment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659331.stm gives a timeline. At present the entire Underground network is closed and all buses in the central area have been stopped. Most main line services into London are being terminated outside the London area. See: http://nrekb.nationalrail.co.uk/incidents/today.html for up-to-date main line rail info.
Yeah, The perils of being able to type at the same time eh... Admin note - I've locked the other thread and copied the info into here to continue. More news as it comes to light Currently the BBC is saying two confirmed dead, I would suspect that will rise. Other news agencies are saying 20+, but they are not confirmed figures from a real source yet.
More info on the transport situation, plus the advice if anyone is reading this from work in London, stay in work for the moment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659817.stm
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1188265,00.html GROUP CLAIMS ATTACKS A terror group linked to al Qaeda says it carried out a series of terror attacks on London that have left a number of people dead and hundreds injured. A previously unknown group calling itself "Secret Organisation al Qaeda in Europe" said it carried out the attacks as revenge for British "military massacres" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two London hospitals have reported a total of 185 wounded after a series of blasts hit locations across the city on buses and Tube stations. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said there was evidence of explosives at at least two of the six sites. Scotland Yard has denied reports they were warned of an attack by Israel minutes before the blasts. Two people have been confirmed dead and at least 90 people injured in the explosion at Aldgate Station. Prime Minister Tony Blair, issued a joint statement from all the leaders at the G8 summit. "This is not an attack on one nation - it's an attack on all nations and civilised people everywhere," he said. Injured treated at Aldgate "It's important however that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people." Witness, Angie, saw the bus explode in Russell Square. She said: "There were a whole lot of people around the bus. Next thing I was on the floor and there were a lot of people on me. "I thought I was going to be crushed. The bus was ripped out at the back. It must have been a bomb." The entire Tube network has been shut down and police have confirmed blasts at four sites: Russell Square and King's Cross Underground; Moorgate, Aldgate, and Liverpool Street Underground; Edgware Road Underground; and Tavistock Square where there has been a confirmed explosion on a bus. One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from King's Cross when there was a huge flash. The train stopped and people were using umbrellas to smash windows of the trains. Passengers were led out of the train by underground staff. He added people were milling around King's Cross covered in soot.
How can you get through to psychos like this? Translated text of the statement: "The Secret Organization Group of Al-Qa'idah of Jihad Organization in Europe (Jama'at al-Tanzim al-Sirri, Tanzim Qa'idat al-Jihad fi Urupa) In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and the dauntless fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him. O nation of Islam and nation of Arabism: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge from the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahidin have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern and western quarters. We have repeatedly warned the British government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahidin exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid. We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused. God says: " (O ye who believe!) If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly." [ July 07, 2005, 08:06 AM: Message edited by: virtual-bird ]
Things are becoming clearer. It seems to be three bombs on tube trains and one on a bus. Tavistock Sq. and Russell Sq. are next to each other and it seems to be that one incident being described in two locations. I could be wrong however as all the news services are still giving out confusing and contradictory information. The three train bomb locations appear to be on the Metropolitan/Circle line between Aldgate and Liverpool St, on the Piccadilly line between Kings Cross and Russell Square, and at Edgware Road station (line affected not specified yet)
Police news conference now confirms 33 dead at present. Rescue works are still in progress. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4661059.stm [ July 07, 2005, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
After a rather late start this morning (late night to bed!) I was told online by Paul Cassar about the bombs, so promptly switched on the tv in my office. Shows how up to date with the news I am, when an Aussie tells me the latest All very shocking and disturbing, but I fear that it was sort of inevitable eventually. Sadly there is little which can be done to protect fully these soft targets. Disrupting a major city transportation system is very easy if you are as fanatical as the perpetrators of this act, and who have no regard for the lives of innocent people.
One more thing - the security, rescue and medical services are doing a truly wonderful job. The planning for such an event over the past months and years have been immensely valuable. They all have my admiration.
Latest on the news before I came to work 4 explosions 2 UXB had just been discovered (Fox news) Authorities have confirmed that at least 38 people had been killed, and 700 injured in the blasts. Three explosions on the Underground left 35 dead, two died in a blast on a bus and another died later in hospital. The news also said many are not expected to survive the night with horrific injuries, missing body bits loss of blood.. Scarey, since we are probably next on the list.
7.16 over here as I start writing, here's an update... Death toll remains at 37 officially this morning, but there are strong suggestions that there may be more bodies still underground at the Kings Cross site, the work there is being made hard by damage to the tunnel. More than 700 injured, many seriously. Our thoughts are with those folk involved, and their friends and families. The investigation is getting underway, there is lots of speculation as to wether the bus bomb in particular was a suicide bomber. Against the background of this, folk are again starting their morning commutes to work, there is a very real sense that we will not be beaten down by this. For those trying to get to work this morning: Authorities suggest not travelling if you cannot get there, at present it's looking like this mornings rush hour will be around half the size of yesterdays. There are several roads closed around the blast area's still to allow work to continue on those sites. Buses are back up and running. No service on the Piccadilly Line between Arnos Grove and Hyde Park No service on the Hammersmith & City line or the Circle line, and reduced service on the Wimbledon-High St Kensington part of the District. These three routes share a pool of trains based at Hammersmith and I suspect the blast at Edgware Road will have prevented them from moving the trains around overnight as usual. Kings Cross station is still totally closed still apart from the suburban platforms. Quoting from the BBC site: "Commuters will face delays, and are being urged to be vigilant and consider whether they need to come into London. "
Not much comfort to our English friends, but I remember this bit from an ad that came out in November 2001: If the purpose of terrorism is to destroy our way of life, Then the besy way to defeat terrorism is to live our way of life. Let the government and whatever military branch that does covert ops take care of the guilty. No diety who is truly merciful would condone such a thing, be it God, ALlah, Yaweh, or whoever. My prayers to the families of the dead & wounded.
