Posted on 07/07/2005 1:45:13 AM PDT by RWR8189
There has been an explosion at Aldgate East underground station in London, causing the closure of the entire Tube network.
There are also reports that a second incident took place at Edgware Road station in north west London.
The Aldgate East blast was caused by "some kind of power surge", according to Tube infrastructure company Metronet, which is responsible for maintaining the Metropolitan line.
A spokesman said: "We don't know the extent of the problem yet."
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We have just sent some resources out to the scene."
British Transport Police confirmed that there are "walking wounded" and said paramedics have responded to one report of a person classed as "life at risk".
"It's chaos, with people trying to work out what has happened," said a spokesman.
"All we know at the moment is that staff reported a loud bang at 8.49am. No one is sure what caused an explosion, but it is thought it could have been a collision, a power cut, or a power cable problem."
One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from Kings Cross when there was a huge flash.
The train stopped and people were using umberellas to smash windows of the trains. Passengers were led out of the train by underground staff.
He added people were milling around Kings Cross covered in soot.
Bus blast: eye witness accounts
Jul 7 2005
Cycle courier Andrew Childes, 36, from London was on his way to the British Medical Association's headquarters in Tavistock Place, Euston, when the bus blast happened outside the building.
He said: "I heard a bang, a thudding deep sound. There was a big cloud of grey smoke. I was about 250 metres away at the time and I stopped dead in my tracks and didn't go any further.
"I waited for a bit and then went to see what had happened.
"The bus was just splintered metal, and it was all bent over.
"The top part of the bus was completely exposed, as if the roof had been ripped off it.
"There was a bit of panic going on, a few screams and shouts, but there wasn't massive panic. The police were already there because of what was happening on the tubes and quickly got things under control.
"I didn't see if anyone was on the bus or if anybody was hurt. Somebody told me they saw the driver running away from the bus but I don't know if that's true.
"I've never experienced anything like this before. I'm quite shocked. I need a hot cup of tea with some sugar.
"I've been trying to get hold of my family to tell them I am all right, but all the networks are down."
Mr Childes said the explosion happened about 9.20am.
More than two hours later the whole area from Russell Square to the scene of the blast remained cordoned off by police.
At least half a dozen buses stood abandoned nearby.
Taxi driver Michael Michael, 48, from Cockfosters in north London, was due to pick up a fare from University College Hospital at 9.30am.
He was opposite the hospital in stationary traffic.
He said: "There were police everywhere, the roads were all gridlocked, nobody could move. I had to turn my car off at one point."
He turned off down a side street and ahead of him saw a bus explode. "It was in a bus, bam, the top of the bus just ripped up.
"I heard the sound, and I could see the bus from a distance. The roof went up. You could see a big impression in the roof and the rest of it was all off.
"It sounded like a gunshot, I thought it was a gunshot at first."
Bystander Raj Mattoo, 35, was standing on a corner when the bus exploded nearby.
He said: "The explosion seemed to be at the back of the bus. The roof flew off and went up about 10 metres. It then floated back down.
"I shouted at the passengers to get off the bus. They went into Tavistock Park nearby.
"There were obviously people badly injured. A parking attendant said he thought a piece of human flesh had landed on his arm."
The bomb near Russell Square rocked the Tavistock Hotel.
Receptionist Sam Elliott said: "People were running in, some obviously injured.
"One man was being carried by other passengers. We just did not know what had happened."
Parking attendant Ade Soji, 35, of Dagenham, Essex, said he had to run for his life after the bus exploded.
He said: "I was helping a member of the public with directions when the bus stopped and the driver asked me the name of the street. I told him Tavistock Square and he called me over.
"Just as I was about to go, I heard the bus explode.
"In another second I would have been dead. I had to run for my life. I looked back and saw the roof flying over."
It was then that he noticed his colleague, Pedro Da Silva, holding his head and in pain.
He took him to the Tavistock Hotel where he was being treated on the floor of the bar by a paramedic.
Mr Soji said: "I think a piece of metal hit him on the head and he can't get up."
Mr Soji's uniform was covered in blood.
He said: "I think this is blood from the passengers. I can't believe what has happened. Surely when you are working in central London you should be safe."
They'd love to be able to get their hands on those responsible.
Oh, you know they will blame this on Bush.
And they will hit a target of high political/cultural value here in the USA. If I were a casino owner in Las Vegas, NV I would step up security substantially before a terrorist drives a passenger minivan loaded with explosives in front of a casino entrance and detonates the bomb, which could kill hundreds of people. 
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161768,00.html
"Terrorists Strike London With Series of Blasts"
Thursday, July 07, 2005
VIDEO PHOTO ESSAYS
FREE FOX News Video:
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Series of Blasts Strike London
STORIES LINKS
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D.C. Heightens Transit Security
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Witnesses Describe London Blasts
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Israeli: Scotland Yard Warned Us
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "LONDON — A series of explosions struck London's public transportation system Thursday in what Prime Minister Tony Blair declared to be a coordinated series of terrorist attacks.
After several hours where public officials cautioned against reaching conclusions about what caused at least six blasts on subways and buses, Blair gave a brief televised address where he concluded it was a terrorist action."
The historical relevance of 7/7 was posted up thread; wish I could find it for you but I can't.
Yup, the rhetoric is going to be hot and heavy after this one...it's going to get ugly.
Has it been confirmed that three buses exploded also?
"London shares plunge; confirmation of bus explosion adds to tube ...
Forbes - 1 hour ago
... Union sources report explosions on three separate buses across London. One explosion happened at Edgware Road and there are suggestions of two other ... "
http://news.google.com/news?q=explosion%20bus%20london&hl=en&hs=xqT&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&tab=wn
I firmly believe these attacks will only further the resolve of Blair and the Brits. Do not be surprised if you see some alliances with the Irish as well. Why? Because we all have a common enemy- muslim terrorists.
I think the UK response has yet to emerge. It may be worth pointing out though that the UK is no stranger to bombings.
Fox coverage is excellent. I happened to wake up at 5:00 am this morning. CNN was on live with the blast. Fox continued with O'Reilly and Cavuto repeats. When they finally broke in for live coverage they were great.
Kilmeade is first rate. Col. Hunt is the best. I personally do not like Judge Napolitano and think he is way in over his head.
Sky News association is a big asset for this coverage.
yes , we've been too hard on the poor dears
This attack will have the opposite effect on the Brits that the terrorists intended.
Oh, I hadn't realized someone thought Spain was reveling in the attack. The jihadists can't take us on militarily, but will do everything they can to destroy the economies of our allies and the US.
Update: Israel's Foreign Minister denying that they received a communication about this attack.
To show solidarity with their "brothers," no doubt.
London blasts fit al Qaeda-type pattern-analysts
Reuters.uk, UK - 7 minutes ago
... The London blasts, at underground stations and on buses, had clear echoes of March 11, 2004, when ... "There are lots of parallels with the Madrid blast...We have ...
Well if AQ did claim responsibility how do the crackheads on the left reconcile that with their moonbat 'We(Bush) did it to ourselves'?
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