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.
What part of London, please? My son is in London.
Some casualties in "major incident"...scrolling on screen of CNBC Europe...must not be too big of news, no breaking away from $62 oil talk....
What time is it in London?
Financial district...power surge the cause...
Of the two tube stations mentioned, one is in the City--the financial district and one is in West London. Edgeware Road is where a lot of expatriate Middle Easterners live.
Either almost 09.53 am or 08.53 am.
bump
They are 6 hours ahead of CDT IIRC so I think it is 9:55.
Liverpool Street station...
I see that the article says it was 8:49. I am thinking that my son's internship was over yesterday and that he probably was not on the tube, going to work.
Aldgate Station....
CNN: People on the street saying five distinct explosions.
It's coming up ion 10:00 a.m. there now.
Does your son take the tube in the mornings?
I'm headed to London next month. For and escape from terrorism.
I think.
Thanks, he is staying near Kensington Gardens, but I don't know what part of the city is job was in. I am hoping that he just slept in today.
CNN: Whole subway network in London closed down.
Your odds are better in London...eat well....
Several tube stations - Aldgate East, Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, Edgware Road and Russell Square.
TV still saying that it was some sort of power surge - but people coming into my office (in Holborn) are talking bomb and the day after the Olympic result is eyebrow-raising.
Lots of sirens and helicopters.
Beeb report here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm
Citywide power outage?
Negative. No report of electricity outage in above ground buildings.
CNN (international) says citywide subway system closed down. Incedents occurred at approximate 8:49am London time.
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