07th July 2005: London has been bombed

[Spider]

[Mr T.]

Multiple blasts paralyse London




Firefighters aid an injured passenger at Aldgate station



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.

UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke said several explosions in central London had caused "terrible injuries".

"The health services are in support to deal with the terrible injuries that there have been," Clarke told reporters outside Downing Street.

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.

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

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

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


Jacqui Head
BBC News



Bus 'ripped apart' in explosion



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."

LONDON TUBE EXPLOSION CHAOS

0849 - Report of explosion on Metropolitan Line between Liverpool Street and Aldgate
Further explosions reported at Aldgate East, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Russell Square and Moorgate
Two Underground trains collide near King's Cross

[Mal Bridgeman]

...I decided to work from home today.....otherwise would have been in Liverpool St. at the time.....
Mal

[resting rifleman]

seems like a well co-ordinated and executed attack!
take care folks, the shit has come ashore!
eyes and ears open, the "secret squirells" have been on the ball so far, but it couldnt last forever.
condolences to the victims,and all affected!

[Andy the Coastie]

Why is it that the Prime Minister can't speak to the country from Gleneagles ?

Looks to me he is more intrested in his chats or breakfast

He was due to speak 30 minutes ago,,, but now said , he will speak at mid day.


Anyone remember the Deal Bks Royal Marines bomb in 1989, well i don't as i was in a coma after the bang, but i know for a fact that Charlie boy got his ass there that afternoon , as well as maggie and the queen the following day .

[Pretty Flowers]

Have just woken up to news of this on the radio over here. My thoughts go out to everyone back at home.

[Jelly]

Greetings All
From the other side of Canary wharf, well the building the IRA got last time -shut up James-

DLR seem to be running at times and Vodaphone is up and down like the perverbial.
hope all okay
Jelly

[Clare Gledhill]

90 casulaties at Aldgate alone....


I can't raise my boss. He was due to travel out of Euston at 10:00 am this morning - I don't know how he would have got there traveling from westminster but he would have used the tube. I understand that mobiles are down everywhere so am hoping he's just walking but his wife hasn't heard either - which is worrying.

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by Gledders

20 dead so far.


bastards bastards bastards bastards

There are two or three friends I still can't get hold of... you sort of tell yourself it will be fine.. but for twenty families tonight it won't be

Not good, there are people I can't get hold of but there is no mobile phone network so not very worried yet...

Danny

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Andy the Commie

Why is it that the Prime Minister can't speak to the country from Gleneagles ?

Looks to me he is more intrested in his chats or breakfast

He was due to speak 30 minutes ago,,, but now said , he will speak at mid day.


Anyone remember the Deal Bks Royal Marines bomb in 1989, well i don't as i was in a coma after the bang, but i know for a fact that Charlie boy got his ass there that afternoon , as well as maggie and the queen the following day .

It's difficult to speak when you have your tongue rammed up Bush's arse.