Posted on 07/07/2005 3:15:34 AM PDT by 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."
Just a thought...
You know we stand with your country, Ivan. Be safe.
Thanks for the ping howlin.
The same animals who did this in London (islamofacists) are doing it in IRAQ. I hope the left drinks a nice big cup of STFU and lets the president and Blair just do the freaking job of getting rid of these idiots.
I've little hope of the left shutting up though--Perhaps for a little while, but not for.
Impressive, powerful statement by the mayor of London.From www.guardian.co.uk:
London Mayor Calls Blasts 'Mass Murder'
Thursday July 7, 2005 1:46 PMAP Photo EKW103
By YEOH EN-LAI
Associated Press Writer
SINGAPORE (AP) - London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the blasts that ripped through his city Thursday were ``mass murder'' carried out by terrorists bent on ``indiscriminate ... slaughter.''
Livingstone, in Singapore where he supported London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics, was rushing back to London after the simultaneous blasts in London's subway network and a double-decker bus, causing deaths and hundreds of injuries.
``I want to say one thing: This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty or the powerful, it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers, it was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners,'' Livingstone told reporters.
``That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith, it's mass murder,'' Livingstone said. ``We know what the objective is. They seek to divide London.''
A group calling itself ``The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe'' claimed responsibility for the blasts in an Internet posting, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
News of the blasts sent jubilation at London's successful bid for the 2012 Games plummeting less than 24 hours after the International Olympic Committee's vote.
Livingstone said the attack was aimed at ordinary Londoners.
``Black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindus and Jews, young and old,'' he said. It was an ``indiscriminate attempt to slaughter irrespective of any considerations for age, class, religion - whatever.''
Livingstone said he was being kept informed of developments in London via a communications team set up in case an emergency occurred when he was out of the city.
``I have no doubt whatsoever that this is a terrorist attack,'' he said.
Prayers for the British.
patent
Asymmetrical Equation
Great Idea, MI! I couldn't wait to get on FR this morning to make sure you were still among us. Thank God you are.
My 30 yr old daughter just returned last night from London. Since she didn't call last night to say she got in, I was worried sick upon hearing of the attacks early this morning and was SOOOOO relieved when she finally did call! She hadn't heard the news and was in shock. It gave both of us the shivers when she said that exactly 24 hrs earlier she was on one of those tubes!
I'll make a toast to both of you later!
Then the bad guys would 'win'.
It also creeps up in my mind that London just beat Paris out for the olympic games. Paris has been a haven of all sorts of unseemly types for a long time, Islamists, VC, and others.
This sort of coordinated attack takes planning, even if it does not take more than 40 or 50 people to execute. Separate cells could have been each working on their particular bombing with no knowledge of the others (just a small coordinating infrastructure) for some time.
Islamic types put some significance on numerology and numbers. Seven bombs on 7/7 is not coincidental, imho.
Lets Roll!
Of course there no shortage of tea MadIvan LOL!
You fellow Brits would freak out I am glad you are okay
That ol' chap looks plenty pissed!
The Metropolitan Police advise people to stay where they are.
Do not call the emergency services except in life-threatening situations.
An emergency hotline number is expected shortly.
All London hospitals are closed to non-emergency cases.
Emergency service calls are being given priority on mobile phone networks.
prayers with you.
GOOD They staking Arab community near London right now according to report off SKY news Damn rack FOx news they own this story I THINK
Rack Mayor Livestone if my memory serve correct Ron Dog he consider GOOD guys
unlike That a***hole George Galloway other wise known as Saddam little b***h
Thge left has already6 spoken out on this, grr!
And it's predictable of course
I was listening to a morning talkshow (on WCBM AM in Baltimore) and a liberal e-mailed the show saying it was Bush's fault (They're usual mantra!
Why am I not surprised at that!
Of course this idiot was calling for Bush's impeachment.
YEP!
The libs have stuck thier 2 cents worth in in and it's worthless as usual!
They're on the job! :o)
Interesting comment.
At this point, it's not even known who promulgated these bombings. It doesn't seem like the work of the I.R.A, and I don't believe the anarchists who oppose the g8 gathering would have the sophistication or the courage to undertake such an attack. So, it's time to point the finger at the "usual suspect".
I know tensions are running high at the moment, but I'm wondering if the overall impact of this (by the majority of English, albeit _not_ by our own conservative UK'ers like MadIvan) will be to _diminish_ the popularity of Tony Blair and to actually _blame_ him, because of his staunch support of G.W. Bush and the war on terror.
Call it the "Madrid effect".
The left will complain, "if you [and the government] had not supported the United States, the Islamics would never have become so angered with us". And blah, blah, blah.
Another interesting comment was from someone who noted that this attack comes on the seventh day of the seventh month.
- John
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