(Updated) BREAKING NEWS: Massive Series of Explosions rock Southern England

Sky News UK ^ | December 11, 2005

[Big Bad Bob]

Reports of up to Four Explosions at a fuel depot Near Hemel Hempstead, North West of London, according to Sky

__________________

Update:

Explosion Near London


The first picture, taken by a Sky News viewer

Map of the area

Updated: 06:41, Sunday December 11, 2005

There has been a large explosion followed by two smaller blasts in the St Albans area, around 25 miles north of London.

Sky Correspondent Sky Meade has said he can see flames about 200ft in the sky and there appears to be burning fuel.

Speaking by telephone from his home, Meade described "burning tongues" of flames in the sky.

The first blast happened at 6.03am - the other explosions followed about 20 minutes later.

Meade, a seasoned war reporter said he can see what looks like "burning aviation fuel".

"This fire is extremely intense. It is a bright orange glow on the horizon," he said.

Witnesses have told Sky News they heard the blast near Junction 8 of the M1. It is thought to be centred around Bunsfield fuel depot, near Hemel Hempstead.

The blast was felt at Sky Centre - more than 20 miles away in west London.

It was so powerful it blew out the windows at a hotel in Hemel Hempstead. There are reports of injuries there.

And one witness has told how the explosion shook his mother's house and lifted the roof.

Witnesses have told Sky News that emergency services are converging on the area.

Sky News producer Anwar Tambe heard the blast from his home in Luton and is currently stuck in traffic on the M1.

He said blasts are "going off regularly" and debris has blown onto the motorway.

More follows...

[EternalVigilance]

It was just a bottle rocket.

Time to move along...nothing here to see...

/sarcasm

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Bet if it was a car chase, Shep would already be on it.
(Someone had to say it.)

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Bet if it was a car chase, Shep would already be on it.
(Someone had to say it.)

[rawcatslyentist]

Free Tookie!!! Free Tookie!!!!

From Oxygen dependency!!!!

Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

[SweetCaroline]

LOL! That one last "refresh" will get us every time.

Yep, I can't tell ya how many times I hit refresh "JUST ONE MORE TIME!

[DrGunsforHands]

I'm pretty sure Fox News and Sky News are owned by the same company.

[onyx]

Ah yes, but isn't Sky News in Britain a sister of FNC?

I don't get it --- has this already been dismissed as not terror related?

[Howlin]

I AM SO TIRED...........why can't we find some news so we can GO TO BED??????

[LibWhacker]

Buncefield Oil Terminal

[TShaunK]

On the 11th to boot!!!

[naden25]

Hoping and praying that everyone will be ok.

[RegulatorCountry]

"Not thinking terrorism."

Well, I'm not going to automatically assume that it is, but I'm also not going to automatically assume that it isn't. Not enough information out there yet, and the public pronouncements from government officials tend to seal my impression ... an automatic dismissal of terrorism from "authorities" usually gets my radar up. A workmanlike attempt at explaining what happened, with no effort to fix a single cause is less suspect, in my mind.

[Termite_Commander]

That company being News Corp, I think. That's why FOX always refers to Sky News as its "sister network".

[Slings and Arrows]

Thanks, I didn't know that. (No guarantee that the left hand knows what the right had is doing, though.)

[onyx]

LOL! Are you series?

[msnimje]

Yes this is a very serious subject and we don't know yet if anyone was injured or KIA. We will now assume the appropriate serious demeanor.

My first post was very serious and I assume you would consider it "appropriate."

However I am perfectly capable of making an ironic or sarcastic statement while still holding a great deal of respect and concern for all those possibly injured.

Are you the "thought policeman" on duty tonight?

[scott7278]

Slap some makeup on the custodian there and let's go.

[DrGunsforHands]

Are casualties the same as fatalities, or does it both injuries and fatalities?

[TShaunK]

ON 12/11/05!!!

[onyx]

Whoa. You're right.