Posted on 07/07/2005 1:45:13 AM PDT by RWR8189
There has been an explosion at Aldgate East underground station in London, causing the closure of the entire Tube network.
There are also reports that a second incident took place at Edgware Road station in north west London.
The Aldgate East blast was caused by "some kind of power surge", according to Tube infrastructure company Metronet, which is responsible for maintaining the Metropolitan line.
A spokesman said: "We don't know the extent of the problem yet."
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We have just sent some resources out to the scene."
British Transport Police confirmed that there are "walking wounded" and said paramedics have responded to one report of a person classed as "life at risk".
"It's chaos, with people trying to work out what has happened," said a spokesman.
"All we know at the moment is that staff reported a loud bang at 8.49am. No one is sure what caused an explosion, but it is thought it could have been a collision, a power cut, or a power cable problem."
One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from Kings Cross when there was a huge flash.
The train stopped and people were using umberellas to smash windows of the trains. Passengers were led out of the train by underground staff.
He added people were milling around Kings Cross covered in soot.
Dang I gotta stop with that dark humor.
prisoner6
About 8:49 London Time.
Also I just heard on the radio(WPGB, 104.7, Pittsburgh) the Israeli ambassador was told by London police that they could be targeted for a terrorist attack minutes before the explosions.
London Terror Attacks Kill at Least Eight, Cripple Transport
July 7 (Bloomberg) -- Terrorists set off a series of bombs across London's subway system in the financial district and on a bus in the center of the capital, killing at least eight people and shutting down all public transportation.
``It's reasonably clear that there have been a series of terrorist attacks in London,'' U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said at the Group of Eight summit, which began today in Gleneagles, Scotland. ``Our determination to defend our values is greater than theirs to impose extremism. Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed.''
Seven explosions occurred, starting at 8:50 a.m. local time, at financial district Underground stations, including Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Aldgate East, police said. Casualties were on a bus that exploded near Russell Square, a firefighter said. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks, which come a day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics.
Five explosive devices were found on the subway network, an unidentified firefighter said. Explosions were also reported at Kings Cross and Edgware Road stations in central London.
``Health services are in support to deal with the terrible injuries that there have been,'' Home Secretary Charles Clarke told reporters in London. ``I want to express sympathy on behalf of the whole government to the families and friends of those who have been injured,'' Clarke said.
UBS AG evacuated one of its buildings near Liverpool Street. About 320,000 people commute to the financial area to work each day.
``I heard a big bang,'' said Loyita Worley, 49, who was traveling between Aldgate and Liverpool Street and had soot around her nose and mouth. ``The lights went out on the train and ash began to fall. I smelt a burning smell. Some people were panicking and I heard people shouting and crying for help.''
Stocks, Pound Slide
European stocks and U.S. stock-index futures fell after the blasts. The U.K. pound, the dollar and bond yields also slid.
The G-8 summit began in Gleneagles today and is scheduled to last until tomorrow. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy Japan, Russia and the U.S. are attending the summit to discuss the economy, aid to Africa and climate change. Today's explosions follow celebrations in London yesterday after the city won its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
There are about 1,000 London Metropolitan Police officers on duty at the G-8 summit, said Ruth Copperthwaite, a spokeswoman for Scotland's Tayside Police. There are no plans to send them back early at the moment, she said.
London residents should ``stay exactly where you are until the situation clears,'' said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair in a statement. ``The most serious casualties are already in treatment.''
A spokesman said London Fire Brigade was called to an explosion at Liverpool Street and blasts at ``a number'' of locations. A police spokesman said a blast occurred just before 9 a.m. local time at Aldgate station.
`Panicking'
London Ambulance Service initially sent four vehicles to Liverpool Street, a spokesman said. The service then sent ambulances to other locations in central London. ``There was panicking inside,'' said Samantha Fletcher, who was stuck in a train for about an hour between Cannon Street and Tower Hill stations. Offices around Aldgate were closed.
Have they closed the air space in London???
Fox is reporting an unknown group.....in the name of Al Qaeda is claiming this bombing.
I'd look at Zaquawi's messages....I believe he's giving the orders. He's been quiet for a few days.
Can we predict what these idiots will say or what?
What is the DEAL with Africa this year? I am totally clueless about why that is the agenda.
My daughter woke me up to tell me..Just catching up on the news..
God Bless our British allies.
"Live Media Links Here"
Thanks for providing those news links, such links are always so helpful, not just for now but for future reference.
I think they'll do the exact same thing they do in Israel and now London- head for buses and trains where they can do immediate killings. In larger cities, it would be so easy for them to blend in with the rest of the crowd.
Please delete #1289. The link is too long and it skewed the thread margin wide to the right.
I'll repost it with a smaller link.
Thanks
Good find. I don't remember that specifically.
According to an Italian news agency a previously UNKNOWN GROUP, in the name of Al Queda, is claiming responsibility. According to FOX, the US will *NOT* raise terror alerts. Israel has officially DENIED getting any info from the UK that an attack on London was near.
oh , the left won't change it's spots
Nothing the crackheads think makes sense.
They'll probably be able to identify the bus bomber since their heads are usually found intact after the explosion.
Time to send more terrorist to hell where they belong.
Does the number 7-7 mean anything to the British?
I think the numerological aspect to this is not significant. If Al Qaeda is trying to impress us by timing the attacks to coincide with some significant milestone, let's not be impressed and simply put the dagger in their throats.
Absolutely. Blair was already tough and stalwart, now he'll go after 'em with a vengeance and we'll be right by his side.
Watching him again on the replay -- he is shaken and rightly so.
Haven't heard about air space but travelers are warned to stay away from London.
I've gotta say that these Muslim terrorists are not that smart.
I had to Google it.......lots of "news" since then.
Once we here at FR figured it was OBL (about 9:02 a.m. that morning!), I never gave it a second thought........LOL.
Spiegel online reports that Al Quaida has claimed responsibility for this attack.
Who were you quoting?
I wonder if this was more like the Madrid attacks. Package bombs.
I wonder if GWB will make a statement.
Repost of #1289 with smaller link:
Has it been confirmed that three buses exploded also?
"London shares plunge; confirmation of bus explosion adds to tube ...
Forbes - 1 hour ago
... Union sources report explosions on three separate buses across London. One explosion happened at Edgware Road and there are suggestions of two other ... "
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/07/07/afx2127304.html
Exactly. This attack will only toughen the resolve of POTUS and PM Blair.
Oh my! Chilling. The earlier reports of power grid problems causing all these explosions seemed a little far-fetched. How do those stories get legs?
Group claims attack in name of al qaeda
All they've done is energized the British against them even more then they had been.
Killing innocent men, women and children.
The bus bombing was a suicide bomber. The subways were probably package bombs.
We deserved it?
On July 7, 1937, the Peel Commission came out with a Partition Proposal dividing up Palestine into sectors for Jew & Arabs.
More info here: http://www.passia.org/publications/bookmaps/page1.htm
No doubt. Probably along with all the other leaders at the G8.
The barbarians are going to necessitate that we do something really radical: defeat them with every means needed.
No more "aid to Africa", no more "foreign assistance to Palestinians", no more "money for global warming", no more "caring for the indigent", etc.
All our national resources and legal machanisms will have to be retooled in the effort to defeat this enemy. It will require more people and more equipment. It will require less freedom and more severe sentences, and a greater probability that an innocent person will be condemned. It will require that "protesters", whether on the streets or in the Senate, be thrown into jail and charged with sedition.
For my part, I will encourage any and all who unabashedly claim defeating and eliminating these barbarians this to be our NUMBER ONE priority - and any other government work a distant also-ran.
Sky News: Reports that bus bombing was a suicide bomber.
He won´t say more or less than all the other G8-leaders, except for Tony Blair: showing sympathy with the victims and Britain, showing strength regarding the course against terrorism.
Sky reporting that the bus bombing may have been done by a suicide bomber on board.
Suicide bomber on bus, Scotland Yard believes.
London was on high alert because of G8 and concert.
Definitely AQ or affiliate. Too coordinated to be anyone else.
Sky reporter (Fox sister network) who works the Scotland Yard beat says the bus explosion was a suicide bomber.
That's one of their aims, isn't it... to disrupt the financial markets?
Rupert Murdoch.
Early report breaking may have been suicide bomber on one bus!
Sky reporter who covers Scotland Yard is hearing it was a suicide bomber on the bus.
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