Terrorist Attacks in London

[Humphrey]

In case anyone hadn't noticed. Looks like an attempt to replicate Madrid.

Several people have been injured after explosions on the Underground network and a double-decker bus in London.

A police spokesman said there were "quite a large number of casualties" at Aldgate Tube Station.

And Scotland Yard confirmed one of several reports of explosions on buses in the city - in Tavistock Place - but said the cause was not yet known.

One caller to BBC Five said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines and bodies everywhere".

Number 10 said it was "still unsure" whether the explosions were a terrorist attack and although casualties were reported, no further details were yet available.

Ministers are meeting to clarify the situation and the government will make a statement later, Leader of the House Geoff Hoon told the Commons.

PA also quoted union officials as saying sources had told them there had been at least one explosive device on the Underground.

British Transport Police said incidents took place at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations.

Scotland Yard confirmed they were assisting with a "major incident" and said there were casualties.

Hospitals have said they are no longer accepting non-emergency cases, BBC Five Live reported.

The National Grid, which supplies power to the Underground, said there had been no problems with its system which could have contributed to the incidents.

'Screaming and crying'

Jacqui Head, from BBC News, who had just left King's Cross station on a Piccadilly Line train as an explosion happened, said: "Everything was normal. Suddenly there was a massive bang, the train jolted.

"There was immediately smoke everywhere and it was hot and everybody panicked. People started screaming and crying."

The train was kept in the tunnel for 20 minutes and no announcement was made to explain the delay to passengers, she added.

Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, near Kings Cross, told Five Live: "My only thought in the midst of all this confusion is that after the celebration of yesterday (for the Olympic 2012 London success) for people to be evil enough - if it is the intentional causing of death and injury - and think that they can justify this in any circumstances is completely unacceptable."

London Fire Brigade said four crews were at Liverpool Street and more were on their way.

Another passenger, who had left the Tube at Fenchurch Street Station, and walked to Aldgate East, told BBC Five Live that he saw injured people.

"As I walked through the bus station I could see people lying on the ground, black, as if they'd been covered in smoke. There were about three or four people on the floor being treated."

Eyewitness Paul Woloszyn from BBC News, who was at Blackhorse Road station on the Victoria Line, said: "We were told there was a bomb at Liverpool Street station.

"I was on the Tube, and they stopped the train and told everyone to get off and evacuate the station."

He said staff had said the entire Tube network had been affected, and leaflets had been handed out with details of alternative bus routes.

Another eyewitness, Dorothy Molloy, had been on a Tube train at King's Cross and said "staff just chucked everyone out of the station".

She said staff there had not given any details, but she said two passengers she had spoken to had said they had received messages saying there had been bombs.

"People didn't really know what was going on, they were just huffing and puffing and saying how annoying it was," she said.

"People don't seem to be panicked, but there's so many police and ambulances coming into the areas. People are just concerned, and some are just annoyed at the delay.

[Rilla]

"News agency reports have made no mention of any terrorist involvement, but union officials have been quoted by the Press Association as saying they had been told of at least one explosive device on the tube. "

So we don't know for sure yet that there was any terrorist involvement or if there was, then which group.

I think it's dangerous to be so paranoid and jump to conclusions too soon.

- like in Madrid when they tried to blame ETA straight away and in the end were wrong.

[hr]

"O unworn world enrapture me, enrapture me in a web
Of fabulous grass and eternal voices by a beech"

[JM]

i dunno, and not to sound too dramatic but if it isnt a terrorist thing or anything then its a bit much to put 5 or 6 explosions down to a malfunction or accident.

[hr]

"Life can be full of many problems"; this can be translated into "tormenting you is how the big man gets his jollies"

[Humphrey]

I'm not blaming anyone, just saying its probably a terrorist attack and not a 'power surge' as first suggested on the news.

Having said that, Very well planned, co-ordinated series of blasts - I'll put money on Al Quaeda

[hr]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/humphrey_clarke/

[Eliot Wilson]

It does seem inconceivable that these "incidents" (as Sir Ian Blair is still rather primly calling them) aren't related. Some kind of terrorist agency seems inevitable.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[queen of scots]

It's looking increasingly like terrorism. It's incredibly frightening though and it's a day I hoped would never come.

[hr]

Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

[bdw]

the office I'm working in has become a fortress. one woman has just come in covered in soot - was on one of the edgware trains.

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

'Arab sources' monitoring the terrorist networks say Al-Quaeda are responsible. I must say that the emergency servies are coping damn well.

[hr]

Will Watson. Medical Student. Cake Lover.

[Caroline]

Timing as well. Officials are saying that they were on high alert due to the G8 and London winning the olympic bid, but I would have thought that now would have been a perfect time as most of the country's minds are on the G8, Make Poverty History and the Olympics. People were distracted and therefor slightly complacent.

There was someone on the news this morning saying that the attack probably wasn't intended to injure but to distrupt which I also don't agree with. Over 20 are feared dead right now, and many many more injured. The fact that the attack wasn't on the scale of 9/11 was probably due to the fact that security is way too high now, and the only means of attack is through vunerable, open systems such as public transport.

[Humphrey]

My girlfriend's mum reckons it was the French.

[hr]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/humphrey_clarke/

[Eliot Wilson]

Six bombs in a coordinated and efficient attack? Doesn't sound like the French to me.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[Akasha]

I got to work before it all started but all I can hear out my window is sirens.

The emergency services do seem to be doing a good job but with ALL of London's public transport shut down for the forseeable future I do wonder how I'm going to get home.....

[bdw]

doesn't appear to have been any biological/non-conventional stuff used, which is the only plus at the moment. have heard that the casualty figure is around 70.

[Humphrey]

Quoting Eliot Wilson from 11:59, 7th Jul 2005
Six bombs in a coordinated and efficient attack? Doesn't sound like the French to me.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

True, they couldn't even organise a yes vote on the E.U constitution.



[hr]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/humphrey_clarke/

[Rilla]

bbc news says the casualty list is 2.

This is actually very scary I've just been talking to my friend who works in London - apparently the mobile phone networks only just got back. She's stuck in her office and has no idea how or if she'll get home tonight (to Bedford).

I wonder would this have happened in the other cities if the olympics had gone somewhere else.

[hr]

"O unworn world enrapture me, enrapture me in a web
Of fabulous grass and eternal voices by a beech"

[Ashley]

Quoting Rilla from 12:25, 7th Jul 2005
I wonder would this have happened in the other cities if the olympics had gone somewhere else. [hr]

I would have thought something like this would have required rather a bit of organisation -groups would not have had the time to reorganise elsewhere if a different city had won the Olympics. Though I don't know for sure.

Blair has since said he believes it to be a terrorist attack now. He's also coming down to London for the day.

[hr]

Nobody ever mentions the weather can make or break your day

[Little Miss Giggles]

What's the world coming to?

[Guest]

Is this related to any of the recent events that's been going on, such as the G8 summit or the 2012 Olympics? Or is this random?

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

It was rather surreal seeing all of G8 standing behind Blair, although the message is clear.

[hr]

Will Watson. Medical Student. Cake Lover.

[little headache]

I would imagine it's to do with the G8 summit, but it seems a bit odd to coordinate an attack in London rather than somewhere in Scotland (though I suppose London is the most recognisable city).