Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Updated) BREAKING NEWS: Massive Series of Explosions rock Southern England
Sky News UK ^ | December 11, 2005

Posted on 12/10/2005 10:42:38 PM PST by Big Bad Bob

Edited on 12/10/2005 11:05:40 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

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...



TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: england; explosion; explosions; terroristattack; uk
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 981-988 next last
To: palmer

Perhaps I'm being an over-protective mother, but the more they try to convince everyone it's an accident the more I become convinced it's not. Repeating "it's an accident" every other sentence almost is like they are trying to brainwash everyone. They've been saying it since about 30 minutes after the first blast. There's no way they would know that soon, especially when they couldn't get near it.


641 posted on 12/11/2005 3:40:50 AM PST by AmeriBrit (HILLARY's1974 Watergate Crimes: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/925684/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 637 | View Replies]

To: AmeriBrit
9 11
3 11
12 11
I'm inclined to agree if only for numerological reasons.
642 posted on 12/11/2005 3:44:50 AM PST by palmer (Money problems do not come from a lack of money, but from living an excessive, unrealistic lifestyle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 641 | View Replies]

To: AmeriBrit

more explosions expected


643 posted on 12/11/2005 3:44:58 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 641 | View Replies]

To: syriacus

AQ threated refineries earlier in the week.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535747/posts


644 posted on 12/11/2005 3:49:52 AM PST by dawn53
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 613 | View Replies]

To: dawn53

explosion possible near tanker ( 18 wheeler) loading rack

witness

8-10 vehicles loading area


645 posted on 12/11/2005 3:53:14 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: dawn53

trucker,,,looks like the explosion happened behind the loading racks where they load the trucks


646 posted on 12/11/2005 3:53:56 AM PST by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

3 million gallons per tank


647 posted on 12/11/2005 3:54:01 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 645 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998

we are listening to same thing


648 posted on 12/11/2005 3:54:32 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: dawn53

Still no MSM coverage.. they can't wake up reporters on sunday?


649 posted on 12/11/2005 3:54:55 AM PST by Pimpmygop (Pimp my GOP Ride!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: Pimpmygop

lets not talk about them...

they are useless


650 posted on 12/11/2005 3:57:19 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 649 | View Replies]

To: Pimpmygop

bbc.com has live coverage, need realplayer


651 posted on 12/11/2005 3:57:50 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 649 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998
They can load those trucks at a rate of about 1000 GPM. If a shut off valve somehow malfunctioned we are talking many thousands of gallons on the ground but early reports said aviation fuel. I wonder if this was avgas, if so, much more volatile than reg. gasoline.
652 posted on 12/11/2005 4:00:52 AM PST by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

they were together

gas and air fuel


653 posted on 12/11/2005 4:01:41 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 652 | View Replies]

To: Big Bad Bob

New AQ tape surfaced today urging attacks on Western interests.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1394608&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312


654 posted on 12/11/2005 4:02:22 AM PST by freeperfromnj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pimpmygop
CNN reporter live now..said they are saying "it was accidental" THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT!!
655 posted on 12/11/2005 4:03:01 AM PST by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 649 | View Replies]

To: All

Some news from the "authorities" I am taking this disclaimer with a handfull of salt.

UK police deny terrorists' involvment in depot blasts
www.chinaview.cn 2005-12-11 18:16:21


LONDON, Dec. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- British police said the cause of the large fuel depot explosions near Hemel Hempstead, around 40 km north of London, is not yet known but no third party, a plane or terrorists, was involved, the Sky News said on Sunday.

A resident living near the storage told BBC earlier that he had heard an aircraft fly low in the sky right before the blast, but police later found no indication of aircraft near the explosion site.

According to the Sky news, there were unconfirmed reports that eight people were killed in the blasts, but so far all but two people have been accounted for.

The huge blast, followed by several smaller ones, appeared to be centered around the Buncefield fuel depot near junction 8 of the M1 motorway at 6:03 am local time (0603 GMT), and was so powerful that could be felt more than 30 km away.

Houses near the Buncefield fuel depot have been evacuated and emergency services are handing out gas masks.

The cloud of acrid smoke is moving south and beginning to obscure main roads, including the M40 motorway, according to reports.

Experts said all the fire crews can do in this type of situation is to cut off the fuel supply and wait for the burning out of the fire, during which there is "every chance of another explosion."


656 posted on 12/11/2005 4:06:11 AM PST by indcons (indcons on Rush Limbaugh's show (transcript): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1535861/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 655 | View Replies]

To: Big Bad Bob

A disgruntled employee?


657 posted on 12/11/2005 4:06:18 AM PST by cricket (No Freedom - No Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

I do hope and pray no one is harmed. I can't however help but remembering the recent "global warming" meeting just held in Canada. I do not know what side of the issue England holds on this treaty, but if they are in favor of it seem this accident just used up their share of greenhouse emissions for a couple of years.


658 posted on 12/11/2005 4:06:39 AM PST by Just mythoughts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 651 | View Replies]

To: eastforker
>I wonder if this was avgas, if so, much more volatile than reg. gasoline.

No it is not. Octane is a rating of a specific ability to resist compression induced predetonation, i.e. "knocking."

Many aircraft are now certified to burn regular "car' gasoline. Avgas has tighter production controls, better filtration and less tendency to evaporate at less atmospheric pressure, i.e. higher altitudes, but gasoline is gasoline.
659 posted on 12/11/2005 4:08:39 AM PST by MindBender26 (Having my own CAR-15 in RVN meant never having to say I was sorry......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 652 | View Replies]

To: cricket

Maybe a peaceful disgruntled employee.


660 posted on 12/11/2005 4:11:24 AM PST by palmer (Money problems do not come from a lack of money, but from living an excessive, unrealistic lifestyle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 657 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 981-988 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson