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.
High voltage facilities can go kaboom, such as if a transformer arcs over inside and fries itself. Was there lightning and thunder in the area prior to the explosion?
BLASTS ON TUBES AND BUS
According to reports a bus has exploded in central London just minutes after a number of blasts on London's Underground.
"I saw lots of people running up a road and then saw the top of a bus destroyed," one eyewitness told Sky News.
Sky News producer Bob Mills said he heard the loud explosion near Euston Station.
Scotland Yard could not confirm reports of an explosion on a bus in Russell Square. A spokeswoman said police were at the scene and attempting to determine what had happened.
The entire Tube network has been shut down following the blasts at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.
More at http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1188265,00.html
Maybe fireworks to celebrate the 2012 Olympics in London? Or a special welcome for the G8-leaders? Ok ok, it ain´t funny at all! I pray that there won´t be deads.
"`Railway officals have discovered at least one explosive device..."
Per Sky News?
Amazing....a little over an hour and they already have done a full investigation and ....IT'S THE LONE POWER SURGE
Reuters reports Bus explosion at Tavistock Square (Police witness)
I do not understand why officials always say "definitely not terrorism" before anyone has a chance to investigate.
Thank God, Eva. My son will be in London to study in a few months, and will be there for quite a while. This is very upsetting. Prayers for a minimum of injuries to our friends, and I don't want to think of worse.
re: Who's saying it was bombs?
"Eyewitness Paul Woloszyn from BBC News, who was at Blackhorse Road station on the Victoria Line, said: "We were told there was a bomb at Liverpool Street station.
*snip*
Another eyewitness, Dorothy Molloy, had been on a Tube train at King's Cross and said "staff just chucked everyone out of the station".
She said staff there had not given any details, but she said two passengers she had spoken to had said they had received messages saying there had been bombs."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4659093.stm
It is utterly frustrating. Cable news coverage is very poor at this hour.
If this is an attack it is probably over by now.
CNN journalist live now, apparently he witnessed the bus explosion. The entire roof was blown off. He sounds really shaken. Talking about major casualties from the bus. Apparently he had just walked off the before it blew up.
CNN: Bus explosion
Another one?
Listening to BBC radio live.
Reporter on the scene said a guy showed her footage he took with his cell phone. Shows a bus that had been demolished. Reporterette is being careful not to say it was a bomb. People lying on the street, serious injuries.
Reports of tube explosions at Russell Square, near Paddington, Edgeware Road.
Yes, per Sky News.
*DJ London Clearing House Evacuated After London Incident
BLASTS ON TUBES AND BUS |
"I saw lots of people running up a road and then saw the top of a bus destroyed," one eyewitness told Sky News.
Sky News producer Bob Mills said he heard the loud explosion near Euston Station.
Scotland Yard could not confirm reports of an explosion on a bus in Russell Square. A spokeswoman said police were at the scene and attempting to determine what had happened.
The entire Tube network has been shut down following the blasts at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.
It is understood several people have been wounded in the underground blasts, with one unconfirmed eyewitness telling Sky News he saw "bodies on the line".
British Transport Police confirmed there are "walking wounded" and said paramedics have responded to one report of a person classed as "life at risk".
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