Posted on 07/07/2005 8:08:02 AM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
APPARENTLY co-ordinated blasts across London's transport network today bear similarities to last year's Madrid bombings and suggest an attack in the style of al-Qaeda, security analysts said.
Officially, there was no immediate confirmation from British authorities that they were treating the explosions as an attack by militants. London's police chief said there were about six blasts. The use of near-simultaneous attacks to cause maximum damage and panic is a tactic frequently used by al-Qaeda, from the 1998 bombing of two US embassies in East Africa to the September 11 attacks on the United States with four hijacked airliners in 2001.
Since then, the pattern has been repeated in deadly attacks attributed to al-Qaeda or like-minded Islamist militants in Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Spain.
The London blasts, at underground stations and on buses, had clear echoes of March 11, 2004, when 10 bombs hidden in sports bags exploded on four packed commuter trains in Madrid at the height of the morning rush hour, killing 191 people.
"There are lots of parallels with the Madrid blast ... We have to assume it's a terrorist attack,'' German security analyst Rolf Tophoven said.
"The first thing that's very obvious is the synchronised nature of the attacks, and that's pretty classic for al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda-related organisations,'' Budapest-based security analyst Sebestyen Gorka said.
"If we're talking about several attacks on one day, then there's a good likelihood we're talking about a known quantity here.... The similarities to Madrid are clear.''
As with the Madrid attacks, which occurred three days before a general election, the London blasts appeared timed to coincide with a key political event.
They took place as leaders of the Group of Eight nations were meeting on the first full day of a summit in Scotland - an event which required its own huge security operation and drew heavily on police and counter-terrorist resources.
Britain has three decades of experience combating Northern Irish guerilla violence but it has not suffered an Islamic militant attack, although police say they have thwarted several attempts and have said repeatedly a successful strike is only a matter of time.
Britain presents a likely target for Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda and affiliated groups because Prime Minister Tony Blair's Government has staunchly backed US President George W. Bush in the war on terrorism, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Casualties from today's attacks were unclear but they sent financial markets diving and threw London, Europe's biggest financial centre into chaos.
Propaganda messages from bin Laden have shown a keen awareness of the economic impact of al-Qaeda attacks and attached importance to hitting economic targets and key infrastructure.
Thought you'd be interested in this. FRegards....
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Time for them to die for Allah yet?
There have been arrests in the past two years throughout the US concerning terror cells and transportation.
The NYFD found detailed schematics for the NY subway a month ago.
The NY subway had a suspicious fire that was blamed on a homeless man
Re: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327588/posts
Fire Cripples 2 of [New York] City's Busiest Subway Lines [multi-year repairs]
New York Times ^ | January 24, 2005 | SEWELL CHAN
Posted on 01/24/2005 3:05:35 PM PST by 68skylark
"A subway fire that gutted an underground communications room has crippled two of New York City's busiest subway lines, the A and the C, and full service may not be restored for three to five years, officials announced today.
The Sunday afternoon fire at the Chambers Street station was apparently set by a homeless person and is being investigated as an act of arson, according to Lawrence G. Reuter, president of New York City Transit...."
An Oklahoman muslim was arrested with a plot to place pipe bombs on public transit in 2003.
Also, there were the Madrid subways bombings in 2003, Moscow subway multiple bombings, and Japan's subway nerve gas attack.
Interesting MO
Anyone notice the numerical significance?
7-7-7
July 7th, 7 bombs (it appears)
"At the very least, the "useful idiots" of the left have drawn an 'assist' on this latest terror play by drawing security forces North into Scotland, and away from London, to monitor their moronic, infantile and narcissistic protests.
Put simply, there are only two sides in the war on terror and by now it should be abundantly clear to all which one the anti-globalization, anti-war rabble, along with their ultra-liberal and socialist allies in the West's legislative bodies, are on."
Good point. And let's not forget Bob Geldof's useless Live8 global concert that drew away security. I'm sure they are still loading up the logistical nightmare today.
And potentially very damaging, Sully me boy !
As you know,additional comments may be seen at:
http://mrmeangenesnews.blogspot.com
I was taking the A train that evening, and had to switch over to the 2-3 line for the next few months because of slow, crowded service on the A line while they did repairs.
But I think it really was a homeless man. He lit a wood fire in the switch room to keep warm over night. That's not a terrorist M.O. Not bloody or spectacular, just a damned nuisance.
Thought provoking reply. (Didn't know of Madonna's call for revolution, what was London's reaction to that, do you know, I'd be interested to know what they thought of it.
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