(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...

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Paging Mad Ivan and Happygal....

Paging...

[onyx]

Absolutely correct. We're ahead of Fox News by a good 7 minutes. Maybe more.

[papertyger]

No one ever mentions the Methodists - another part of our insidious plan.

Bah! You guys lack the "hymnals."

[daybreakcoming]

Just caught the end of FOX report on this - said there were no injuries known yet. I pray not but this was a pretty furious blast.

[carl in alaska]

Yes this is a very serious subject and we don't know yet if anyone was injured or KIA. We will now assume the appropriate serious demeanor.

[Big Bad Bob]

Hertfordshire Police are reporting two or three explosions at the Buncesfield Fuel depot, about 30 miles NW of London. It is 10 miles from Luton Airport. There has been massive structual damage, with a powerful shockwave which has damage property nearby.

[COEXERJ145]

My vote is TROP. And I won't believe it if they say it's not, for the record.

Believing everything is terrorism, especially before any details are known, just makes you sound foolish.

[emiller]

This is all happening because of Tookie... Free Tookie!!! Free Tookie!!!!

[agooga]

You know-- you've really got nothing to lose by blaming TROP for anything and everything at this stage of the game.

[Cindy]

I don't know Jenny.

[metmom]

SOunds like too big of an explosion for a plane.

I remember a dynamite truck blew up many years ago the quarry near Buffalo. We felt it across the city but it was just a sharp jolt. No damage.

[Americanwolf]

Put a sarcasm tag on that before somebody slaps you... :)

[MJY1288]

LOL, I will never forget the Thanksgiving Morning when at 6:30 AM I was alerted that President Bush was in Baghdad visiting our Troops. I told my wife that Bush was in Baghdad, and she doubted the validity of the story, I assured her that FR has members all over the globe and that she shouldn't doubt this story... LOL by noon Thanksgiving Day, the video of GWB in Baghdad with our Troops was released...

FR is ahead of the curve!

[Slings and Arrows]

My dog's arthritis is acting up - it's that dammed ROP!

[msnimje]

CNN should switch to their International news to cover this shortly.

[VeniVidiVici]

That's why I asked him if there was a refinery there. I seem to hear of refinery kabooms fairly often. Well, more often than one would think is normal, but not too many accidents for just a tank farm.

Maybe some driver went off the M1. Heck, we had a plane in Chicago go through a fence and kill someone the other day so I guess anything is possible.

[onyx]

Thank you for the update.

Fox News mentioned injuries, but no details.

[Big Bad Bob]

That's my initial thinking too. But remember this is what people on the ground were saying, so anyone with any other suggestions?

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP

[papertyger]

I just sent the Sky News URL to Fox.

I have this vision in my head of you leading a blind guy to a PC.