(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...

[COEXERJ145]

Take, for instance, the first plane to crash into the World Trade Center.

Until the second plane showed up, there was no proof it was terrorism.

[RegulatorCountry]

"Until the second plane showed up, there was no proof it was terrorism."

There was no proof it wasn't either, but that didn't stop authorities from making the claim that it wasn't. Ever wonder how many people in the second tower could have been saved, if not for a false sense of security derived from being told that this was just an isolated incident?

[Canard]

"There is nothing. There is nothing thus far. One is final, and one is ongoing. If you see no difference between the two, well, I'm just not sure what to tell you."

This is the Police press statement that was issued this morning:

http://www.herts.police.uk/crimedatabase/site/content.php?article_id=2031

"Police and other emergency services are attending the area of Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead this morning following reports of an explosion just after 6am.

There is nothing to suggest at this stage that this is anything other than an accident although we are keeping an open mind. Contrary to rumours circulating there is also nothing to suggest that a plane is involved in this incident."

That seems to me to say exactly what you say they should be saying. 'At this stage' is an adequate replacement for 'thus far', no?

[RegulatorCountry]

"That seems to me to say exactly what you say they should be saying. 'At this stage' is an adequate replacement for 'thus far', no?"

Yes, it is. Thank you for clarifying.

[AmeriBrit]

Maybe you don't realize there are some of us members here that either live in the immediate area or those of us who have family in the immediate vicinity and we'd like to know the truth rather than some 'fluff' thrown at us like what happened in this case WITHIN MINUTES of the disaster occuring.
There were reports of a plane being both heard and seen by witnesses but again within minutes these reports were disputed. How the h*** could they know? The area was fully ablaze and no-one could get anywhere near to judge whether it was an accident or terrorists. If there's the slightest inkling it was terrorists, I want to know so I'm aware of what my kids are up against.

[AmeriBrit]

"and the Iraq elections take place on 12/15/05... no 11's or 3's in play."


I don't have any difficulty coming up with 3's and 11's.

12 - 1+2=3

15/05 - 1+5+0+5=11

It's a stretch I know, but it's still there.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I'll give you that. Any news from over there? I'm not buying "accident" just yet.

[operation clinton cleanup]

By over there... I meant, your previous home (judging by your screen name).

[little jeremiah]

I hope someone is going over the list of employess and checking names with times of shifts and who checked in and out. Of course, if someone had nefarious deeds in mind he (or she?) may not have time clocked accurately.

But the nature of the explosions - from what has been posted - sounds as though it could as easily have been done a-purpose as not. If in order to create a huge explosion, all that's needed to is get some gas to leak, and then arranage a little timed device, or even wait for nature to take its course, who would ever know?

[little jeremiah]

Haven't read to the end of the thread yet, but here's a speculative thought concerning the trucker who saw a vapor cloud and ran in. IF - big if - this was actually not an accident, someone on the ground caused a leak, then a small plan flew over and dropped or shot something that would cause a spark in order to ignite the gas, I doubt anyone would notice in the midst of the explosion.

[PhiKapMom]

I know -- seems we have been down this road before!

[operation clinton cleanup]

I hope someone is going over the list of employess and checking names with times of shifts and who checked in and out. Of course, if someone had nefarious deeds in mind he (or she?) may not have time clocked accurately.

I'm sure they are doing it now, but the potential for leaving a valve open or a computer virus doing the same is something that may never be discovered. There were a lot of Muslims involved in the Y2k remediation that would have exposed lots of electronically controlled systems vulnerabilities ripe for sabotage.

[little jeremiah]

Interesting point.

And it may be a "we'll never know" kind of thing. Unless someone does a victory dance and explains how it was done.

[AmeriBrit]

"Until the second plane showed up, there was no proof it was terrorism."

I'd like to bet a large sum 'Slick Wiley' knew immediately, without the 2nd plane hitting the WTC, that it was terrorism on 9/11.

[operation clinton cleanup]

It never really occurred to me until now. Lots of Y2K work was outsourced to Pakistan, etc. The group I worked with had many Muslims who left the company soon after Y2K. They had access to endless amounts of info about electronic infrastructure controls for fortune 500 companies. Outsourcing may come back to bite us in the butt in ways we do not expect... or can detect.

[AmeriBrit]

"By over there... I meant, your previous home (judging by your screen name)."

Quite correct, but it's not the same country now I was born and raised in. They left the borders open too long. I never thought I'd see the day when there would be wailing and mosques everywhere and to buy British Food I'd have to go search at the back of the store.

[brytlea]

And some want to assume it is never terrorism (I'm not pointing at you, as I don't know what you usually assume.) The authorities almost always initially say, "no indication of terrorism". I personally think it's because they want people to stay calm. However, I would prefer if they would honestly say, initially, "We don't have enough evidence to know if it was terrorism or not, but we are certainly looking into it." That would satisfy me.
susie

[brytlea]

And none that it wasn't.
susie

[brytlea]

Thank you for posting that, it's alot closer to what I think they should say (altho they still seem to be trying to weigh this in favor of not terrorism--maybe hopeful thinking, but I think really to keep the public calm).
susie

[operation clinton cleanup]

I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters from 1990-93. Loved the country so much, I extended for 1 year past my required 2.