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."
The Olympics are still on. We will shine through this. The glow of victory has diminished, but it hasn't died.
Regards, Ivan
Remember that those are the same people who now look back at WWII, and say with straight faces that WE (the allies) were "the bad guys" for strategic bombing campaigns, for firebombing Germany and Japan, and for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those events ended the war. These are the same people who are complaining that the current war is taking too long, and that we shouldn't use overwhelming force in destroying the enemy, and that, in fact, we shouldn't destroy the enemy in the first place, but to try to understand the enemy, and come to an agreement.
You're right, they have no concept of what war is all about. They don't understand that the only way to really end a war is to win it outright. That's why there's never been a real peace in any war we've fought since WWII.
Mark
Londonerds unite
The spirit of Winston Churchill lives! The only proper response to the terrorists is to fight.
As you wish. I ment no harm.
"Regards, Ivan"
That's the spirit!
Let's hope the Brits show more spine than they do in Spain, where one train bomb got them gay marriage.
We shall rather draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.
~ Winston Churchill, Sept. 11, 1940
That's a powerful prayer. It will never, ever die.
There were initially reports of explosions on three busses, now they are saying Scotland Yard is just investigating one, in the Russell Square area - not sure where that is?
I'm probably the most emotional person about this in my office at the moment...after people phoned their relatives to ensure they were OK, they went back to work.
They can disrupt, they can cause concern, but we carry on.
Regards, Ivan
MI - Prayers for you and all of your countrymen, especially both those killed and injured today and the many who will again be in harm's way as the bill for this horror is tendered to those responsible.
Can you speculate? Is this G8 related? Islamic terrorist? Any ideas?
God Bless you Ivan and your country...we are WITH you.
I agree. Far too many do not understand.
I recently watched the documentary "9/11" done by the French brothers on the firefighters in training on 9/11.
It horrified me, made me cry, and enraged me all at once. It should be required showing in high schools instead of the POS "Farienheit 911"
Words fail me.
The blast pattern indicates some level of knowledge of how to knock out public transport in London. This indicates Al Qaeda to me.
Regards, Ivan
To all Gitmo critics: F**k you.
In case you missed this on the other, more maddeningly frenetic thread:
America stands in resolve with our greatest ally, Britain. I occasionally give you guys some s**t, but that veneer of playful joshing has dropped, and my face is fixed in resolve. We love you and we will do ANYthing to help.
ANYthing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.