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.
God Bless you all. You are in our prayers!
When this is all sorted out want to bet they were tapping some Amman's phones.
Sorry, my mistake...
Thanks Howlin for expressing my sentiments!
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1188285,00.html
BUS 'RIPPED IN TWO'
One eyewitness described "half a bus flying through the air" as an explosion ripped apart a London bus.
The incident happened in Russell Square.
Belinda Seabrook said: "I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double decker bus was in the air.
Mrs Seabrook said the bus was travelling from Euston to Russell Square and had been "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.
"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air, I think it was the number 205," she said.
"There must be a lot of people dead as all the buses were packed, they had been turning people away from the tube stops. We were about 20 metres away, that was all."
"I was on the bus. I looked round and the seats behind me were gone," another witness who was on one of the buses said.
I wonder if the London muslim community got any warning of this? Stay off the transit system today?
Fasten your seatbelts...
When we got the news that the Brits had won the Olympic site vote, I thought I would go and buy a Brit flag. TODAY, I will buy one but for a higher reason...They are our staunchest ally.
Did London receive a warning?
Are you nearby to any of the explosions?
{I think Tony Blair should come home.}
Actually, he needs to be talking with the other G8 people and finalizing plans for regime change in Iran. He needs to be exactly where he is. In fact, it looks a little too convenient that an act of war by Iran on England happens when the other world leaders can coordinate Britain's response. I don't care as long as regime change happens...but the leftists will probably latch onto the fact that Tony was only too conveniently near Bush when war was declared by Iran via these bombings. The left will say that the CIA planted the bombs. Just wait and see. I am not kidding. That is exactly what the left will say. Look at the way the media is talking about a bus being blown up without mentioning that "Oh by the way, there were people in it and they would mostly be dead I guess."
Absolutely!
I'd imagine the airports are almost on lockdown.
In public, perhaps...
One interesting thing is that Edgware Road was one of the stations affected. This is in the heart of normal, upscale, integrated and friendly Muslim neighborhood in West London. In other words, if you're looking for symbolism, it's a strange choiceNot really. The Islamic fanatics have a lot of contempt for their non-fanatic co-religionists.
-Eric
NOTE: CROSS POST FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1438149/posts
"Explosions hit London subway, double-decker bus; 2 dead"
Houston Chronicle ^ | July 7m 2005 | JANE WARDELL, AP
Posted on 07/07/2005 3:47:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
LONDON —
I have a feeling there could be a number of sudden absences at work in Manhattan today. Did you try calling work to see if there's a contingency plan in place for today?
Well, yes, Edgware is a junction of sorts, but if you were going for Twin Towers type symbolism you'd go for stations in the City (the financial district). And if you were going key junctions, I should think Picadilly Circus would be a better bet.
Anyway, much confusion but also much calmness; you've got to love the Brits for this character trait. All signs (apparently) are that all police and transport and emergency personnel have kicked in with the kind of planned, organised response you'd hope for.
The news (I'm switching between BBC1 and ITV) are in that phase where they interview passersby because they really don't know what's going on yet. Give it a few hours.
One of the buses, I just heard, may be an out-of-commission London bus used for transporting tourists groups. And Ken Livingstone (mayor of London) is on his way back from Singapore immediately.
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