(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

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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...

[Tommyjo]

No doubt 'your war' is against Islam. Ask yourself how many Muslims are in the US armed forces. I serve in UK armed forces. We are not on a war footing. Our bases are on no higher alert than they were during the heady years of the IRA. US bases in the UK are on the same alert state. It is not a war time footing. There has been no declaration of war.

[BykrBayb]

No doubt your war is against intelligence. But don't let that stop you from jumping to wrong conclusions. Full speed ahead!

[norraad]

. . . "war against intelligence."

Now that's funny, and true!

Plus, it would burn the terrorist even more if we renamed it that.

If there's one thing 7th century thugs lack, it's a sense of humor, . . . and intelligence (72 virgins, give me a break, have they no idea what a nightmare that would be)

[Tommyjo]

LOL. Let me know when I'll receive my mobilisation for war orders mate. I've been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and still not received a war mobilisation order.

[BykrBayb]

You're a perfect of example of what we were referring to. Someone who just doesn't get it.

[Tommyjo]

I get it all too well. We need to stop pussy footing around and start knocking on the doors of the likes of Iran. Remove the military threat that they pose in the Gulf. Their leadership has shown enough irresponsibility to be denied their toys.

Start by denying the Iranians the delivery methods that they have or are developing. Remove their air defence system and take out every SRBM and IRBM facility. Take out every Su-24 and F-4 that they can use for long range operations. In fact remove their entire air force. Take out all their coastal anti-ship cruise missile batteries and remove the threat that they and their navy can impose on the Gulf. Every weapons delivery ship from China or North Korea needs to be seized on the high seas and the cargo confiscated. If the Coalition is serious about terror it needs to be doing these things now before it is too late. Iran needs to be neutered and soon.

[BykrBayb]

That's the spirit! And here I thought you didn't realize what we're up against. We are at war with islam, whether we choose to admit it or not.

[Churchillspirit]

....even after her body was found...

I usually change channel when this never-ending story appears. When was her body found?