Posted on 07/07/2005 3:15:55 PM PDT by mdittmar
LONDON - Amid four coordinated explosions that hit London commuter routes in the middle of morning rush hour Thursday, killing dozens of people and wounding hundreds more, rescue workers, police and ordinary people streamed into blood-splattered streets to help.
Reporters and TV crews pressed against police tape at the scene. Behind them, passers-by held cell phones in the air to take pictures or video of the wreckage.
Just a day before, London basked in the glory of winning the 2012 Olympic Games, with wild celebrations on Trafalgar Square. Now, the Union Jack at Buckingham Palace flew at half-staff in respect for the dead and injured.
Police went on emergency alert code amber as soon as they understood what was happening, shutting down all subways and buses and evacuating passengers, said Brian Paddick of London Metro Police. An eerie quiet took hold in parts of the city.
Former Plano resident and recent TCU graduate Katherine Haeg’s commute to work on the London rail system seemed slower than normal Thursday, but most riders were guessing it was caused by an electrical problem. Haeg was evacuated with her fellow passengers at Waterloo Station in south-central London.
“Where I was coming from, the Tube was shut down for engineering reasons. It’s pretty normal, but this morning it was lucky, because who knows what could have happened,” Haeg said.
Haeg said one of people’s main concerns was “how to get home from work safely.”
The priority in the morning was getting in touch with loved ones -- it seemed everyone had a cell phone in his hand. By evening, maps replaced phones as thousands of Londoners tried to navigate routes home made unfamiliar by police roadblocks and shuttered subway stations.
Amid the twisted metal and mangled bodies left by Thursday's devastating bomb attacks, Londoners took pride in their tradition of fortitude and quiet defiance.
"As Brits, we'll carry on - it doesn't scare us at all," said 37-year-old tour guide Michael Cahill. "Look, loads of people are walking down the streets. It's Great Britain - not called 'Great' for nothing."
The worst attack on London since World War II brought out a strength and esprit de corps that recalled Britain under the blitz of German bombers. Prime Minister Tony Blair made a televised appeal for unity and praised the "stoicism and resolve of the British people." Both were in evidence across the city, as volunteers helped the walking wounded from blast sites, commuters loaned their phones so strangers could call home and thousands faced long queues for homeward-bound buses - or even longer walks - ithout complaint.
"People are getting on with it," said taxi driver Steve Green. "It's marvelous that they're showing their backbone."
The streets were uncharacteristically calm around St. Paul's Cathedral, whose vast dome towering above clouds of black smoke became a symbol of British defiance of Nazi bombers.
"I can't believe how quiet and calm the atmosphere is in the streets. People aren't panicking, they're just quietly walking," said Inga Gordon, visiting from Oslo, Norway. "It doesn't seem like they are in shock. They are just going about their business."
Some Muslim Londoners expressed fear they would be targeted in revenge. "Everyone is subdued and people are wondering what has happened," said restaurant manager Karim Mohammed. "People are asking how will it affect us, are we going to be treated in a nice way after this?"
However, there were no reports of revenge attacks Thursday. And while the majority of Britons opposed their nation's participation in the U.S.-led war in Iraq, there were no immediate calls to pull out the troops.
Computer technician Matt Carter, 25, said he was struck by how the attacks had united Londoners.
"It's amazing how people have stuck together. I've seen total strangers hugging each other and people coming out into the street with free cups of tea," he said.
"We can't let the terrorists defeat us. We've got to show them they will never win."
Mayor Ken Livingstone condemned the attacks as "an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder" aimed at "ordinary working-class Londoners."
He said the bombers would never succeed.
"I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others -- that is why you are so dangerous," Livingstone said. "But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."
He's a Stalinist clown, but he's also a Londoner. We heard the latter today.
Nobody here is going to tolerate this. We won't scream and shout, we'll all show up for work tomorrow, but I expect to hear of the arrest or SAS'ing of the perpetrators within a few days or weeks.
Provo scum
he refused to call them Islamic terrorists..
why not?
Well, you'll just have to wait and see now, won't you?
Woha! I'm with you brother!
It wasn't clear.
Did SHE say that or did rush say it.
I didn't hear rush today.
I expect to hear of the arrest or SAS'ing of the perpetrators
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