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."
God bless you, Ivan, and all of your countrymen.
Mad Ivan,
Please understand that there will always be assholes (and I don't normally use that sort of language here, but it's warranted!) who have lost all of their humanity, and look at every event in life as part of a political "game."
I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the vast majority of posters on FR do NOT look at life that way, and know that you've got support and prayers headed your way, not just from Freepers, but I'd bet also from many tens of millions of Americans.
You (Great Britian) have been one of America's greatest allies over the years, and I can tell you, for most American's that has not been forgotten.
Again, prayers for you and your countrymen!
Mark
O Almighty God, the supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech Thee, from the hands of our enemies; that we, being armed with Thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify Thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I think we can count on our British cousins to do the right thing. True, there will be a percentage of the population willing to capitulate, just as there is in the U.S. But the majority will have none of it. I'd say they should have attacked France, but they have no need to do so because they already own the French (assuming this is radical Islam at work).
Have you never heard of the adage, "Never mention a rope in a house where there's been a hanging", before??!?
I would say it's time to fire up the nukes, personally.
Regards, Ivan
Prayer is better anyway. You're such a love.
The cowards that are responsible for these terrorist acts must be crazy if they think this will do anything other than strengthen your resolve. Haven't they heard of the Blitz? Stay safe Ivan.
Our prayers and complete support is with you brother!
Ditto that.
We love you and would do ANYthing to help.
Bastards!
There should be NO SECOND CHANCES at all for terrorists or for violent criminals of any kind. Liberals somehow think that the Constitution demands that we give all sorts of dirtbags second chances to live decently. That's not the case, or at least it shouldn't be.
Just look at the kidnapping case recently of Shasta and Dylan Groene in Idaho. We're now finding out that the kidnapper/murderer had been released on $15,000 bail even though he had been convicted once before of raping a boy at gunpoint and then accused later of molesting two more boys. That predator should've been KILLED long before he even got the chance to harm the Groene family. But our justice system is totally obsessed with giving evil a second chance, just as liberals and the media are obsessed with giving enemy fighters a second chance. This insanity needs to stop.
I know it is in the spirit of FR to be a little on the irreverant side, I've done it too. MadIvan is obviously upset about what is going on in London, as we all are. Just let things settle and all will be fine, I'm sure.
I understand. But where would we send them? It's about 7 months early to hit the Islamic rock in Mecca.
Not today.
Please stop. It is not the time nor the place.
Islam is one of their weapons.
You are a piece of work this morning--too much Starbucks coffee in la la land last evening?
They can disrupt, they can cause concern, but we carry on.
The Nazis couldn't do it in The Blitz, the people of Great Britain showed that civilians could perservere over one of the greatest military machines the world had ever seen.
The resolve of your people is legendary and inspiring. I have no doubt that you will prevail!
Mark
From the other thread:
I heard one person from WWII say this:
"While I hated the Nazi's, hated the Germans, that was not the object of my greatest hatred.
"My greatest hatred was what they made me become, in order to defeat them."
Wise words. Let us become savage in response to them. We will have the luxury to hate what we needed to do, later.
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