(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...

[BurbankKarl]

Debka reporting 8 unconfirmed deaths.

[msnimje]

I just heard someone say the low cloud cover is the reason the blast was heard as far as 40km away.

[defenderSD]

Welcome to FR!

[Canard]

"I remain skeptical. For me, the Muslims are guilty unless shown to be innocent."

What a peculiar worldview you must have. Of course, there have never been any accidental explosions involving oil storage facilities, so that should be dismissed as a possibility.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

BBC said there are less than 20 casualties. So far.

[BurbankKarl]

well, a total destruction of an oil facility.....been a long time since that happened....probably ww2

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I see. According to you 9/11 is a joke.

Not to me my friend.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

"40 kilometers" is 25 miles.

Makes a little more sense if the quote was kilometers and not miles.

[papertyger]

When something blows up on the 11th, I'd say you'd have to be cracked NOT to assume terrorism.

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1664888,00.html?gusrc=rss

9.15am update
"Fuel depot hit by huge blasts"

Staff and agencies
Sunday December 11, 2005

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mike Penning, a local MP and former firefighter, said workers at the oil depot "were lucky to be alive".

"I have spoken to some of the workers on site and they were injured, but it was only superficial injuries," he told Sky News. "They were having a cup of tea, realising they were lucky to be alive."

As far as he knew all workers had been accounted for. He said the only thing the fire crews could do was "to starve this so that it burns itself out ... The sky is turning dark now as if it is night time."

He said emergency services were doing a "fantastic" job at the depot, which is operated by oil firm Total UK.

Ian Hutchison, from Total UK, said all its workers had been accounted for.

"Fortunately, as it was a Sunday morning there was minimal attendance."

[defenderSD]

Is the entire facility going up now?

[BurbankKarl]

That guy they are interviewing on BBC just said Crash Site.

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

"When something blows up on the 11th, I'd say you'd have to be cracked NOT to assume terrorism."


Change "assume" to "suspect" and I'm with you.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Yep. That must have caused some gigantic plume.

[shaggy eel]

This to me seems like an accident

,,, at the onset of winter? No more an accident than that subway deal in London was. Fuel is needed particularly at this time of year and this is a significant hit to take. What's the bet another facility will go up the same way?

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

"That guy they are interviewing on BBC just said Crash Site."


I NOTICED THAT TOO! Was is a slip or is that slang in England for something?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I'm having a bit of trouble with the accents on BBC, and my husband is British. Can you explain "crash site"?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Those are the observations to remember -- the early, spontaneous ones that we never hear again.

[little jeremiah]

What kind of a guy said "Crash site"?

What crashed?

[Canard]

"I see. According to you 9/11 is a joke."

What on earth are you talking about. Actually, I think that people who invented and maintained conspiracy theories about 9/11 are a joke. Why do you insist on doing so now?

Now, we don't have all the information yet, although some of the earlier wild rumours seem to have been discounted now. Personally, I'll deal in facts, not wild conspiracy theories that aren't supported by any of the evidence.

Hertfordshire Police have a press conferance imminent by the way, for anyone interested in the actual facts.