(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...

[thecabal]

But you also said in 504, "I'm fine with anyone suspecting anything."

defenderSD was speculating and just stating an opinion, not trying to pass it off as fact. You're not being very consistant.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Thank you. Exactly.

[syriacus]

Link to Map of TotalButler depots in UK on this web page

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I can't believe they are telling people that smoke isn't toxic....

If they can tell people in smoky stairwells to turn around and return to their offices on 9/11, they can tell people anything.

[ScaniaBoy]

The Head of Total Oil in UK was intereviewed on BBC about half an hour ago. He said it was too early to say what caused the explosion.

However, the traffic tower at Luton Airport should know if any plane was missing or any unauthorised plane had entered the airspace around the airport.

[Canard]

Just seems a little bizzare to me to take the police making a comment that they have no evidence of this not being an accident as evidence in favour of it not being an accident. Maybe just me.

[Cindy]

This local site is updating...

http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk

===

ON THE NET...

http://www.bbcnews.com

UPDATE...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4517962.stm

Last Updated: Sunday, 11 December 2005, 08:57 GMT


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "One eyewitness, Jonathan Barr, told the BBC he was working a night shift in the building next door to the fuel depot at the time of the blast.

He was sitting in his office "and the next minute I was on the floor and it was pitch black. I was thrown off my chair," he said.


It is a scene of utter devastation
Colin Campbell, BBC reporter

He received cuts and bruises.

He said he and a colleague had to break a window to get out because the doors were buckled.

They got out of the front of the building and were taken to hospital by passing motorists."

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Thank you for saying that. I just sent that to my husband (we're on wireless in the same room) for his friend who is living 10 miles away from the centre of this.

[little jeremiah]

They're telling people in the area that the smoke is not toxic???

[Canard]

"No, I just think it's way too soon for police to be making any statements about whether this appears to be an accident."

Well I think it's appropriate for them to say what they know so far. They haven't said it 'definately' wasn't terrorism, you're right it's too early to rule that out 100%. They say they don't believe it to have been, which probably means that they haven't found anything that suggests it was and a few things that suggest it wasn't. They did definitively say that there was no aircraft involved to dismiss the rumour that was circulating earlier.

[janetjanet998]

BBC TV..this is a very large depot..with 24 hour a day operations..and supplies fuel for heathrow airport? although that doesn' make sense becuase it wasn't jet fuel..maybe they meant it supplies feul for heathrow airport support vechciles or something

[thecabal]

Just seems a little bizzare to me to take the police making a comment that they have no evidence of this not being an accident as evidence in favour of it not being an accident.

Point well taken, but there is a big difference between it was an accident and we don't yet have a reason to believe it was anything but an accident. From what I heard, they were already declaring it to be an accident. How could they declare that with certainty at this stage? But maybe I didn't hear it correctly.

Perhaps this can be chalked up to a cultural difference. I think alot of American Freepers are very skeptical when the government rushes out immediately after any event like this and declares that terrorism was not involved.

[janetjanet998]

BBC depot operated by 2 different companies..texaco and the british one total

[vimto]

Just a little note on Bishopsgate. The vicar was on a TV prog about forgiveness, Everyone was saying Christians should always forgive.

He was asked "have you forgiven the men who bombed Bishopsgate?"
He replied "I'm not aware anyone has asked me for forgiveness"

Wise, and good man.

[vimto]

Just a little note on Bishopsgate. The vicar was on a TV prog about forgiveness, Everyone was saying Christians should always forgive.

He was asked "have you forgiven the men who bombed Bishopsgate?"
He replied "I'm not aware anyone has asked me for forgiveness"

Wise, and good man.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Typical Brits are not "worried". My husband's friend who is 10 miles away and who's doors and windows rattled is not worried in the least.

Me? I'm a more high strung (Jewish) American girl who's freaking out and worried about him, and about my inlaws.

[papertyger]

you don't think making a statement of "no evidence" when it's patently clear there's been no opportunity to collect any evidence is significant?

[kenth]

"They were having a cup of tea"


You've gotta love the Brits; nothing interrupts their tea.

[msnimje]

Another point is there are living beings who worked at the Depot who may be telling the police exactly what happened. Something like, "The new kid pushed the wrong button..."

[vimto]

Not much in UK.

Only the report of a plane going over by eyewitnesses.

Heard up to 40 miles away. big Blast. Prayers in church where I;m going now (10am GMT)

Regards to all freepers.