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.
Thanks for the update.
I found out my son jumped on the back of a motorcycle, managed to be allowed past three police barricades and is now at a hospital lending a hand.
Trains on orange alert here in the US now also.
Stay safe.
"Barbaric" says Tony Blair....It's the right word. It goes back to the original Muslim call to kill anyone who wouldn't concede to their power.
Homeland Security to make the formal anouncement in 45 minutes.
U.S. Raises Terror Level for Train System
Thursday, July 07, 2005
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities raised the national terror level to orange but only for the U.S. rail network, a move that affects Amtrak, commuter trains, subways and other rail systems, officials told FOX News.
Officials with the Homeland Security Department (search) plan to announce the plan at a 11:45 a.m. EDT news conference. Orange signifies "high" on the government's five-step terror-alert system. The rest of the nation is staying at yellow, or :elevated," for now.
The action was taken because of a series of explosions Thursday on London transit systems.
President Bush, in Scotland for a meeting of the Group of Eight (search) leaders, conferred in a secure video conference with national security and homeland security officials in Washington.
"I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here in London," Bush told reporters from a summit of world leaders here. Bush said he urged caution "as our folks start heading to work."
Before DHS officials took the nationwide action, local authorities in the nation's capital and several major cities heightened security in transit systems.
U.S. officials were trying to determine, meanwhile, whether an Al Qaeda (search) cell's claim of responsibility for the attacks was credible. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity because the situation was still unfolding said analysts were sifting through recent intelligence for any evidence of follow-up attacks here or abroad.
A senior U.S. counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity said that because the attacks were well-coordinated and appeared fairly sophisticated, they were consistent with Al Qaeda's methodology.
Recent intelligence indicated that London was considered a prime target for Islamic extremists, in part because Al Qaeda was having difficulty getting people into the United States, the official said.
Security was stepped up in Washington, with bomb-sniffing dogs and armed police officers patrolling subways and buses — ridden by about 1.2 million people a day — and looking for anything suspicious. Police carrying rifles rode some trains, and passengers were being urged to report any suspicious activity.
At the Pentagon, police officers said they had been placed on a heightened alert shortly after the London attacks.
Security around the massive home of the Defense Department, hit in the Sept. 11 attacks, was more visible than normal Thursday, with police officers in squad cars, on bicycles and on foot deployed in greater numbers than usual on the perimeter roadways and the Metro station.
Amtrak increased the number of police patrols and bomb-sniffing dog teams, and reminded railroad employees to be alert for suspicious activity, according to a company statement.
"These security measures are just taken as a precaution," said spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. "We will continue the heightened security threat level until we have a better understanding of what happened in London."
Several major cities heightened security on transit systems.
In Boston, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney raised the security level on the city's transit system. Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said the heightened security level is similar to the "Code Orange" used by federal authorities.
Increased police coverage of subways, buses and transit stations was also ordered throughout New York City.
In Los Angeles, a police official said police had activated a special command center and officials were meeting to decide whether to upgrade security levels around the city.
A spokeswoman for the Chicago Transit Authority said transit officials were working with Chicago Police on additional security measures. CTA spokeswoman Kimberly Myles said announcements were being made to riders to be aware of their surroundings and to alert transit workers about suspicious packages.
Similar announcements were made in Cleveland and several other cities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Amen!
It is probable that Americans were either injured or killed also. Think of all the tourists and students enjoying their time there.
You definitely raised him right.
Re Taro Card. I have no idea.
Fox News: US trains now on orange terror alert.
"It also appears to be very stupid and hamhanded to pull a deadly attack just days after Live 8, when millions came together around the world to support efforts to fight poverty in Africa. The terrorists have really blown it this time IMO."
No they see it as a victory.
They don't care about poverty in Africa - they hate western civilization and western influence.
The leftist live8ers see the Muslim terrorists as minutemen and freedom fighters. The jihad might kill them last - but it wants to kill them too.
Maybe we should all stay home when anyone in your family celebrates a birthday! :)
The United Kingdom cannot do want Spain or the US did after the Beirut Bombing. They must show they mean buisness and they need to kick some terrorist ass.
"It also appears that worldwide sympathy and anger with this attack is going to be HUGE."
Perhaps the attacks in London will have a greater effect abroad than those in the U.S. since we are reviled more than they are.
Either way, God be with them, and I hope they fight for their lives just as we chose to.
607
I heard the same thing on WABC radio this morning.
Around the same time as 9/11
Thank you. The tragic events are hard to believe - and not. Especially in light of the celebration of getting the '12 Olympics. They timed their attack to coincide with a celebration, I wonder if some of the Islamo-sympathetic Brits are rethinking their ideas about the Muslims in their midst, especially after the publication of very anti-west comments by imams? I hope so.
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=\ForeignBureaus\archive\200507\FOR20050707e.html
Not true...
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