Explosion On The Tube

Yes, they are evening announcing problems at Reading train station where suspicious boxes had evidently been found. Hopefully, another false alarm but it shows that every major railway station in the UK may still be on a relatively high state of alert.
 
There was a controlled explosion at Swindon station too, according the the BBC website. Having said that, controlled explosions take place in Gib quite a lot (they take bomb threats pretty seriously here) and they tend to be harmless - some worker had his toolbox blown up outside the Cathedral last year!
 
Doesn't surprise me about Reading station at all - it's often a target as it is a major station. There have been several occasions when the station has been shut due to bomb scares.
 
Al Qaida claim over blasts
7 July 2005

Al Qaida terrorists have claimed responsibility for the London blasts on an Islamic website and said that "Britain is burning with fear".

The unverified claim, made on the Al-Qal'ah - Fortress - internet site, was posted by a group calling themselves the Secret Organisation Group of Al-Qa'ida of Jihad Organisation in Europe.

The message said: "The heroic mujahidin have carried out a blessed raid in London."

It continued: "Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters."

The claims, picked up by BBC Monitoring, claimed that the strikes were revenge for British military "massacres" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Terrorists appeared to warn Denmark and Italy that they will also suffer attacks if they do not withdraw troops from Iraq.

The message went on: "In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and the dauntless fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him.

"O nation of Islam and nation of Arabism: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge from the British Zionist Crusader Government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Elaph, a secular Arabic-language news website, and Der Spiegel magazine in Berlin, both reported that a group calling itself The Secret Organisation of al Qaida in Europe had posted a claim of responsibility for the series of blasts, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The statement, which also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark, was published on a website popular with Islamic militants, according to the two sources which both published the text on their websites.

"
 
Nothing but admiration for our Emergency Services and fo all their hard work behind the scenes that has been put in for just this sort of eventuality - and which has clearly paid off.
 
Brighton station has been closed whether it's just a precaution, I'm not sure, and can't confirm 100%
 
Absolutely, Jules - the response of the emergency services was incredible, they did fantastically well and very quickly seemed to have things under control.
 
What a day i've had!

At least i'm alive and unhurt, i'm still in shock and feel so bad for the people that have gone to work this morning and will not return.

I also travel on busy trains and work next door to Victoria for TFL.

All i have seen today is chaos, something i never want to see ever again!

The day has just been a weird strange of events, first at work we get told it is a power outage on the tubes, then I hear about the bus been blown up which confirms everyones worse fears.

Outside Victoria went from madness to quietness, then we got evacuated . . . . . strange strange day, had to work 4 miles to get a train but at least i'm one of the lucky ones!

Something like this makes you realise how stupid most of the problems are in your life!

Bastards.
 
I am glad you are OK Craig. I have had a day of disruption too on a much smaller scale, but everyone has been very helpful. We have had jobs cancelled, we have had drivers stuck in London, we have spent alot of the day checking on where the shop fitters are in London to make sure they are all OK, and luckily they are. As I have stated already on this thread, these minor problems are nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison to the disruption caused to those that have lost loved one, or those that now have friends or family in hospital, many in a critical condition.

These bastards will not win - they cannot be allowed to. Normal life will soon be resumed for most of us, and I pray to god that whoever planted these devices are soon caught and punished.
 
Since I started my new contract in London I have always travelled at early times becasue of this, i never thought it would happen but it has.

What upsets me is hearing my mum cry when we eventually got to speak with me, luckily she got to hear me speak, as someone who usually struggles with emotions it upsets me to think of those parents/relations who won't get through, it might sound really soft but it
really does hit you when your involved/surrounded with all that has gone on today.

!--- Just for info etc ---!

noise/panic/confused people around Victoria, mainly tourists really puzzled, taxi cues at least miles long . . . . . . .all mobiles were down for hours, landlines were down until around 12.00, police evacuated us around 13.00 but pretty much left to do what we want, we didnt know if to stand there or walk, i decided i'd start walking to Guildford until i found someway home, a few trains were running from Vauxhall . . . . . not many people there, little scary getting on a train when you have been warned not to travel but all cabs had gone, hotels either evacuated or full, hire cars all gone so for many this was the only option left.
 
It doesn't sound soft at all Craig! It certainly does bring home to all of us how precious life is as many people will simply not be returning home tonight when their only crime was to go to work. Your poor Mum must have been beside herself when she couldn't at first make contact with you.

It is bad enough and sad enough when it is an "accident" and innocent people suffer but when something like this occurs because someone has intended to it, and then almost boasts about it, it makes me so, so angry. We are certainly not the only country to suffer from terrorism, but it certainly makes me appreciate what other countries/cities have to endure on a day to day basis.
 
Latest from Sky News:

ATTACKS KILL AT LEAST 33

At least 33 people have been killed and 1,000 injured in a series of terror attacks on London.

The first blast hit a train leaving Liverpool Street Station between Moorgate and Aldgate East at 8.51am. Seven people are confirmed dead in that blast.

At 8.56am a blast occured on a train between King's Cross and Russell Square killing 21 people.

Five people were killed in a blast at Edgware Road Tube station. Three trains are believed to have been hit by this explosion at 9.17am.

At 9.47am a number 30 bus at Upper Woburn Place was hit by a fourth blast. Emergency services could not confirm the number of dead in this attack.

A previously unknown group calling itself "Secret Organisation al Qaeda in Europe" said it carried out the attacks as revenge for British "military massacres" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
London hospitals have reported a total of 300 wounded after a series of blasts hit locations across the city on buses and Tube stations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said there was evidence of explosives at least two sites.

Scotland Yard has denied reports they were warned of an attack by Israel minutes before the blasts.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, issued a joint statement from all the leaders at the G8 summit.

"This is not an attack on one nation - it's an attack on all nations and civilised people everywhere," he said.

"It's important however that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people."
 
Appalling though this tragedy is, I think we should recognise how fortunate we are that 'they' obviously couldn't strike more 'thoroughly'. I'm probably putting this badly but I am just waiting for the inevitable blame culture to raise its ugly head as to 'How Could This Happen' from certain quarters... I understand there are already rumours flying around that Israel had issued warnings shortly beforehand.

What I consider to be so impressive is that these terorists were in fact very limited in the extent to which they could actually do real physical damage.

I say 'fortunate' but it is in fact basic hard work from unknown and unrecogonised people risking their lives on a day-to-day basis trying to prevent terrorist outrages so the rest of us can continue to lead our privileged and sheltered lives. Plus a whole raft more of people doing mindlessly boring screening work and cross-checking.

It's expecially poignant for me personally today, as my father-in-law died yesterday aged 83 from cancer. A Sqdn Ldr during WWII, he was one of an elite few who flew more than 100 bombing missions - he flew the Lancaster bomber called 'N for Nan' and he was such a quiet, good man who genuinely believed in fighting for freedom but he was always haunted by the results of the missions he flew. No matter what new extremist group surfaces above the slime, there will always be people like my pa-in-law and his modern day equivalent who are prepared to do something about them.
 
I am certainly not looking for a row Songsheet, and I probably haven't worded this particularly well either but to me killing (or murdering) a mere 33 innocent people and injuring hundreds more, "they" may feel that was pretty thorough. The perpetrators may also feel that bringing the whole of the centre of London (although only for a few hours) to an almost gridlock and the fact that the army was called in, that the Prime Minister cut short his trip to Gleneagles, and the sitting of Parliament starting later than usual, they may also deem that as a relatively successful operation. Obviously not on the Twin Towers scale of things, but it made the worldwide headlines again.

I am obviously pleased that there were not any more deaths but to me 33 deaths are 33 too many. Although we will never be able to stamp terrorism out completely, as there is no real way of knowing exactly where or how they will strike next, if there is a real will, I am sure this type of scum will find a way!

I am sure many terrorist attacks attempts have already been foiled and aborted, that we may never know about, but all they need is perhaps a little luck, and bingo, they have the headlines, the disruption, the deaths and casualties that drives them on bringing their grievances again to the fore.

Terrorists, I assume, can occasionally slip the "intelligence net" and I am assuming they are always recruiting suicide bombers in preparation for the next hit. As great as our countries intelligence is, and it must surely rank as the best in the world, I wouldn't rule our similar attacks, in fact larger attacks in the future.
I hope to God I am wrong.
 
More updates about the bus that "blew up" and strange, unconfirmed reports about the driver of the bus. Courtesy of Sky News.

BLAST 'RIPS BUS IN TWO'
One eyewitness described "half a bus flying through the air" shortly after an explosion tore apart a London bus.
Other witnesses and passengers described horrifying scenes in Tavistock Square.
The number 30 was travelling from Hackney to Marble Arch when at 9.50am a blast ripped through the bus.

It came just minutes after three explosions on the capital's Tube network.

One witness claimed that the bus driver had got out and asked for directions while another said he had ran away. Neither accounts are confirmed.

The roof of the bus was ripped off in the blast and sent hurtling several metres away while the back of the bus was torn off.

The roof was left lying on the road and the bus surrounded by debris.

The front of the British Medical Association building, near the bus blast, was splattered with blood to a height of around 15ft.

It is not known whether a bomb or a suicide bomber was behind the attack.

Cycle courier Andrew Childes, 36, from London was on his way to the British Medical Association's headquarters in Tavistock Square, Euston, when the bus blew up outside the building.

He said: "I heard a bang, a thudding deep sound. There was a big cloud of grey smoke. I was about 250 metres away at the time and I stopped dead in my tracks and didn't go any further. I waited for a bit and then went to see what had happened.

The bus was just splintered metal, and it was all bent over. The top part of the bus was completely exposed, as if the roof had been ripped off it. There was a bit of panic going on, a few screams and shouts, but there wasn't massive panic.

"I didn't see if anyone was on the bus or if anybody was hurt. Somebody told me they saw the driver running away from the bus but I don't know if that's true.

Another eyewitness to the explosion said he was blown off his feet as he was rocked by the blast. "I got off the Tube at King's Cross as I was told to and began walking into central London. As I was crossing the road, I didn't even see the bus, but was knocked off my feet. I looked up and could see people trying to climb down from the top of the bus."

Belinda Seabrook said: "I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double-decker bus was in the air.

Mrs Seabrook said the bus was travelling from Euston to Russell Square and had been "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.

"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air, I think it was the number 205," she said.

"There must be a lot of people dead as all the buses were packed, they had been turning people away from the tube stops. We were about 20 metres away, that was all."

"I was on the bus. I looked round and the seats behind me were gone," another witness who was on one of the buses said.

Parking attendant Ade Soji, 35, of Dagenham, Essex, said he had to run for his life after the bus exploded.

He said: "I was helping a member of the public with directions when the bus stopped and the driver asked me the name of the street. I told him Tavistock Square and he called me over. Just as I was about to go, I heard the bus explode. In another second I would have been dead. I had to run for my life. I looked back and saw the roof flying over."

Paul Tripea, owner of the Russell Square Cafe, said people had rushed inside following the explosion.

"One of the security guards from a nearby hotel rushed in and said he saw the bus explode around Tavistock Square," said Mr Tripea.We have also heard that there is a suspect package in Russell Square."

Sky News journalist Bob Mills said: "The top of the bus had clearly been blown off and looking at the wreckage it looks as if the bomb or whatever it was placed at the back of the top deck. People were using tables from a nearby hotel as a stretcher."

Suzanne Flowerday, 16, who is doing work experience in Soho, said: "I just heard a bang and the roof and back of the bus came off.

"There was debris everywhere and people running around. There were police and fire brigade everywhere - everyone was distraught, no-one knows what is going on.

"It can't be a power surge if buses are blowing up as well. There was a woman who had cracked ribs and another lady, half of her face was hanging off. I could've been blown up with a lot of others. There are people standing aimlessly in the street."

Another eyewitness called Angie said: "There was a whole crowd of people around the bus and the next thing I knew I'm on the floor.

"Someone fell on me - I just ran into the nearest building. The bus was ripped off at the back - it couldn't have been anything else but terrorism."

An eyewitness in the Tavistock Place area told Sky News: "I was walking along. There was a whole crowd of people around the bus. The next thing I knew I was on the floor. There was shedloads of glass raining down.

"Someone fell on me and someone fell on him. For a moment I thought I was going to be trampled.

"I picked myself up and everyone was running. There was glass everywhere.We ran into a building and a security guard was saying `get in, get in'. Then the security guard said `get out' which was a bit scary.

Asked about the possibility of a terrorist attack, she said: "I saw the bus ripped out at the back ... it couldn't have been anything else."

Kurush Anklesaria told Sky Online: "I was on the train going from Bayswater station sitting in the first compartment of the train and after passing Paddington station at around 8.50am there was a huge blast just at the side of my feet and part of the floor was reeped open and flew up on the top of the tube.

"The whole compartment was full of smoke and I was covered in debris. I was brought down from the front of the train and walked on the rails to the Edgware Road station. I walked to my house and I am at home pretty shaken by the incident."

Another said: "The roof of the number 59 bus had been torn off during the blast near Russell Square in central London.

"Passengers from the nearby Russell Square Underground station were evacuated - some on stretchers."
 
Condolenses to all those caught in this carnage and the total that I have seen as been nearer 50 and the bus fatalities are not in that number and they rekon the bus was full too just seen report on BBC...

What a load of Bastards to inflict this on innocent people traveling to their employment...

Hanging must be brought back for people such as this... if they were not blown up themselves but also to the organisers...............

Sorry forgot to add... and the heroic actions performed by the emergency services as well....
 
I can't get away from a mental image of some buggers sitting down watching TV and feeling pleased with their handiwork. It's also probable that there are quite a lot of people throughout the world who won't feel repulsed by these acts. S**t what a world.
 
They have just ammended the figure 37 dead including two on the bus plus 700 injured...............45 serious............

I agree with your sentiments Laurence..............
 
I agree with Songsheet. Without wishing to trivialise the deaths of people, after all the stories about dirty bombs, nuclear devices and September 11th-style terrorist spectaculars, this is the worst they could do? If such an attack was inevitable, someone did a very good job of limiting its scale and potential.
 
Watching the pictures today brought it home to me about how hardened I am to similar events in Iraq where they're a daily occurence. The sad thing is, acts like this are probably a result for Bush & co. coming at a time when much of the world was starting to see the US government in its' true light.

The morons will be out in force now, spitting on anyone slightly arabic looking.
 
Originally posted by Kathy@Jul 7 2005, 03:34 PM
Personally, I think it was only right to cancel Epsom Brian even if was only out of a mark of respect to those that have lost their lives today.
Click to expand...
So instead of using the time to reflect, extra virtual races from Portman Park were put on instead. I think it's disgraceful that bookies have taken advantage of what happened today.

My friends Sam and Mark work for the railways. Both are based in central London above one of the tube stations. Sam is an accident investigator and this morning she texted another of our friends to say that both her and Mark were ok but that she was going underground to help people who were trapped. I know it's her job, but I didn't want her to go. I still haven't heard from her and I hope she's ok. I'm sure she is, she'll be so busy and I dread to think of the things she has had to see today.
 
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