Posted on 07/07/2005 3:47:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
LONDON — At least six blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour today, police said, killing at least two people and injuring nine, prompting officials to shut down the entire underground transport network.
The near simultaneous explosions came a day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics and as the G-8 summit was getting underway in Scotland. Initial reports blamed a power surge, but officials were not ruling out an intentional attack.
"There have been a number of dreadful incidents across London today," said Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Britain's top law enforcement officer. He said there were "terrible injuries."
One witness, Darren Hall, said some passengers emerging from an evacuated subway station had soot and blood on their faces. He told BBC TV that he was evacuated along with others near the major King's Cross station and only afterward heard a blast.
Police confirmed an explosion destroyed a double-decker bus at Russell Square in central London and said they suspected a bomb caused the blast. Dow Jones Newswires reported that police said there were explosions on two others buses.
A witness at the Russell Square blast said the entire top deck of that bus was destroyed.
"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double decker bus was in the air," Belinda Seabrook told Press Association, the British news agency.
She said the bus was packed with people.
"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air," she said.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was hosting the world's most powerful leaders at Gleneagles, Scotland, was expected to make a statement at 7 a.m. EDT. It was not clear if the G-8 gathering focusing on climate change and aid for Africa — but from which Iraq has largely been left off the agenda — would have to be postponed.
Police said incidents were reported at the Aldgate station near the Liverpool Street railway terminal, Edgware Road and King's Cross in north London, Old Street in the financial district and Russell Square in central London, near the British Museum.
London Ambulance Service said several vehicles had been dispatched to the area near Liverpool Street station.
"We believe there was some sort of explosion. There are some walking wounded at Aldgate," said a spokesman for City of London police, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We are not sure of the scale of the incident. Reports are still coming in."
Bradley Anderson, a subway passenger, told Sky News that "there was some kind of explosion or something" as his train reached the Edgware Road station in northeast London.
"Everything went black and we collided into some kind of oncoming train," Anderson said.
Simon Corvett, 26, who was on an eastbound train from Edgware Road station, said: "All of sudden there was this massive huge bang."
"It was absolutely deafening and all the windows shattered," he said. "There were just loads of people screaming and the carriages filled with smoke.
"You could see the carriage opposite was completely gutted," he said. "There were some people in real trouble."
prisoner6
Do you think our terror alert should be raised?
I guess it is.
This can't help terrorists.
My heart goes out to our British friends.
-Time to kick the tires & light the fires, folks- terrorism gathers across the World...--
-Jihad! Across the World....--
-All Terror, All the Time-- FR's links to NBC Warfare, Terror, and More...--
Let's stop surveilling them and let's just kill them all where we find them.
Sounds as though the "religion of peace" is at it again......
No doubt the socialists in the U.S. They will blame President Bush and the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. They will demand the U.S.troops be withdrawn immediately.
I was so happy for them yesterday, the only down point was they would be open to terrorism since the world's eye was on them. Now terrorists picked the trifecta...the G8, Olympics site, helper of America in the WOT. All watched by the world. But they just messed up...cause if I know Blair...He will tell them to set their cajones on the table in that meeting (ala Bush 'either you're with us or against us'). Israel called to warn them about some intelligence on it right before the blasts happened.
God Bless Them...I know what they're going through and what they face. I hope some countries (except the frog of course), will really step up against terrorism now. Not because they're scared their athletes and tourists may be lost in the summer olympics...but because the jihadists are going for the dominion of the world. It will never happen though.
Yo, morons, you live on an island. Just expel the mooselimbs.
I suppose the first thing the left will say is "don't unfairly target the muslims!" As always there is more concern for them than there is for the innocent victims of the terror.
Let us not forget the Brits stood with us in the WOT, and now it is critical that America stand with them.
Sooner or later the entire non muslim world is going to hate all muslims.
Yesterday when the story broke that London was going to host the Olympics my first thought was man this could be a security mess. I thought that it would be a perfect time for terrorists to strike at the Brits and was happy that the US did not get to host these games. Looks as though the terrorists are not waiting for the games to start and are sending a message to Britain of what is to come. Hopefully, they have shown their hand too soon and the British security and military can root them out.
Maybe now people will realize we are not fighting with clowns, naked people and flag burners. God be with all that are involved, especially the rescue personnel.
I was over there two weeks ago. I have lots of friends in London and around there. This is a terrible day.
I wonder how long it will take the Canadians to start saying that Britain deserved it (like they did after 9/11).
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