Multiple blasts paralyse London

BBC News ^ | July 7, 2005 | Staff

[MadIvan]

Several people have been injured after explosions on the Underground network and a double-decker bus in London.

A police spokesman said there were "quite a large number of casualties" at Aldgate Tube Station.

And Scotland Yard confirmed one of several reports of explosions on buses in the city - in Tavistock Place - but said the cause was not yet known.

UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke said several explosions in central London had caused "terrible injuries".

"The health services are in support to deal with the terrible injuries that there have been," Clarke told reporters outside Downing Street.

Number 10 said it was "still unsure" whether the explosions were a terrorist attack and although casualties were reported, no further details were yet available.

Ministers are meeting to clarify the situation and the government will make a statement later, Leader of the House Geoff Hoon told the Commons.

One caller to BBC Five said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines and bodies everywhere".

And the Press Association quoted union officials as saying sources had told them there had been at least one explosive device on the Underground.

British Transport Police said incidents took place at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations.

Scotland Yard confirmed they were assisting with a "major incident" and said there were casualties.

Hospitals have said they are no longer accepting non-emergency cases, BBC Five Live reported.

The National Grid, which supplies power to the Underground, said there had been no problems with its system which could have contributed to the incidents.

'Screaming and crying'

Jacqui Head, from BBC News, who had just left King's Cross station on a Piccadilly Line train as an explosion happened, said: "Everything was normal. Suddenly there was a massive bang, the train jolted.

"There was immediately smoke everywhere and it was hot and everybody panicked. People started screaming and crying."

The train was kept in the tunnel for 20 minutes and no announcement was made to explain the delay to passengers, she added.

Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, near Kings Cross, told Five Live: "My only thought in the midst of all this confusion is that after the celebration of yesterday (for the Olympic 2012 London success) for people to be evil enough - if it is the intentional causing of death and injury - and think that they can justify this in any circumstances is completely unacceptable."

London Fire Brigade said four crews were at Liverpool Street and more were on their way.

Another passenger, who had left the Tube at Fenchurch Street Station, and walked to Aldgate East, told BBC Five Live that he saw injured people.

"As I walked through the bus station I could see people lying on the ground, black, as if they'd been covered in smoke. There were about three or four people on the floor being treated."

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.

"I was on the Tube, and they stopped the train and told everyone to get off and evacuate the station."

He said staff had said the entire Tube network had been affected, and leaflets had been handed out with details of alternative bus routes.

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.

"People didn't really know what was going on, they were just huffing and puffing and saying how annoying it was," she said.

"People don't seem to be panicked, but there's so many police and ambulances coming into the areas. People are just concerned, and some are just annoyed at the delay."

[Marysecretary]

Pray that no weapon formed against us (or anyone else) will not prosper. That prayer has a lot of power because it's scriptural. I pray it all the time for Mr. Bush and the US. Maryxxx

[kassie]

My heart goes out to England. God bless you all.

[Former Dodger]

Too organized for anarchists...typical of the Islamofascists: my money's on the rock worshipers,

[Just A Nobody]

Prayers going up for you and your countrymen as the war rages on. America stands with you at this terrible time.

[deport]

Reuters - Thu Jul 7, 8:15 AM ET Emergency services personnel work near the site of a bus explosion in Tavistock Square in London. A series of explosions ripped through London's underground rail system on Thursday morning, killing several people, in what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks to coincide with the start of a G8 summit in Scotland.


Reuters - Thu Jul 7, 8:26 AM ET Pedestrians stand behind a police cordon near the Edgeware Road area in central London, July 7. 2005. A series of explosions ripped through London's underground system on Thursday morning, killing several people, in what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks to coincide with the start of a G8 summit in Scotland.


AP - Thu Jul 7, 8:00 AM ET Injured tube passengers are escorted away from Edgware Road Tube Station in London following an explosion, Thursday July 7, 2005. Near simultaneous explosions rocked at least five London subway stations and ripped apart a double-decker bus at the morning rush hour Thursday, police said, causing at least two

[TheBigB]

Had no idea until I got in to work and turned on my 'puter. Glad to see you're okay, Ivan.

Bastards.

BigB

[cicero's_son]

Ivan, I was in New York on September 11, not more than a mile or so from the Towers. I know what this feels like. I know the rage, the fear, and the confusion--though there should be less of that now.

You and your countrymen and women are in my prayers today. May God protect and comfort you all against this evil.

Please know that the United States will stand strong with you no matter what.

[Coop]

And there are those who still insist we are not at war.

Ivan, please accept my family's sympathy and prayers for your wounded and killed countrymen. America stands with her faithful friend, Great Britain, against terror.

[Marysecretary]

And the land on which they rested should be covered with pig entrails.

[Marysecretary]

I hope Putin finally wakes up to how his nation helps terrorists across the world. Shame on Russia for selling weapons and helping to build nuclear facilities to them.

[sushiman]

The Cure ...

[Slip18]

When I heard this horrid act of terrorism this morning (5:00 a.m.), I thought of you first MadIvan.

This is awful.

[alwaysconservative]

What an awful, awful tragedy. Our hearts and prayers are with you and the families who have lost so much. When will the world wake up to the destruction and sheer brutality of the terrorists and start taking some action?

If you know of any good places to send some help, please let us know.

[Corin Stormhands]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Ivan.

I've got friends from Virginia who flew to London yesterday to visit family.

Keep us posted as you can.

Then let's go kill the bastards.

[NautiNurse]

I hope Putin finally wakes up to how his nation helps terrorists across the world. Shame on Russia for selling weapons and helping to build nuclear facilities to them.

Chirac too.

[meema]

I'm so sorry to wake up to hear this, Ivan! Hang in there we are with you all the way.
These people deserve Eternity in Hell.

[Smokin' Joe]

First, Prayers up for all the injured, their families, and the people of the UK as well.

Have you considered, especially given the unflagging attempts by the press to create a parallel with the Vietnam War, that this may be a "Tet offensive" sort of event which the AQ have been working on? While limited in military, or even terrorist scope, although this appears to be well thought out, casualies are relatively few compraed to the number of people affected in their day-to-day lives.

Hopefully, your press will not allow the terrorists to fully capitalize on this attack, by spouting the sort of rhetoric the US press did in 1968.

Hopefully, the AQ will be denied that propaganda victory in the court of public opinion.

May God grant you all the resolve shown during the Blitz, when the bombs came from the sky, rather than saboteurs crawling in tunnels.

[processing please hold]

my money's on the rock worshipers,

Al-Jerkzerra, has already reported that Al-Queda has taken credit for it.

[blam]

God Bless you all.

We're with you mate.

[MadIvan]

First and foremost, this isn't going to change our foreign policy because we're more or less used to living with terrorism, thanks to the IRA. All it's going to do is make us more angry with the terrorists.

Regards, Ivan