Bombs blast London!!

[Lollipop]

Blair calls London attacks 'barbaric'
Prime Minister to return to capital from G-8 summit

BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 7:29 a.m. ET July 7, 2005

GLENEAGLES, Scotland - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said deadly explosions in London were the work of terrorists “designed and aimed to coincide” with a summit of world leaders.

Blair said he was leaving the summit for the day to return to London, while the other leaders continued the meeting.

“Each of the countries around that table has some experience of the effects of terrorism and all the leaders, as they will indicate a little bit later, share our resolution to defeat this terrorism,” a shaken Blair said in a brief statement to reporters.

“It’s particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa, the long-term problems of climate change and the environment.”

This year’s summit of the G-8 countries — the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia — was being held at an exclusive 850-acre golf resort under the kind of heavy security that has been the norm at these gatherings since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

At least six blasts rocked the London subway and tore open at least one packed double-decker bus in nearly simultaneous explosions during Thursday’s morning rush hour. At least two people were killed and officials shut down the entire underground transport network.

“Just as it is reasonably clear that this is a terrorist attack or a series of terrorist attacks, it’s also reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G-8,” Blair said.

Bush was briefed
There was no immediate word on who was responsible.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush had been briefed, but offered no other details. Secret Service spokesman Tom Mazur said that Bush’s presence had agents monitoring the situation in London, but that the investigation was being left to British authorities.

Liz Kirkham, spokeswoman for Tayside Police Force, which covers the Gleneagles area, said no additional security precautions were being taken at the summit as a result of the blasts, as substantial measures had already been put in place.

“Whatever they do it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and other civilized nations throughout the world,” Blair said.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[pantera]

i'm fed up of terrorism and terrorists. Why they ask for the respect of their beliefs when they have no respect for people's life!
while i'm working, i'm listening (and i'm watching) the news to be updated in real time.
I send my support and my best wishes to the English folk and to all the eglishs here.
Glimmer, i hope you're fine.!!!!!
I'm scared for Mason, because the terrorists band behind those attempts has sent a letter within they directly threat Italia and Denmark!!!!!!
we have to hold on together against this pledge!!!!!

 

[Lollipop]

‘When I looked the back of the bus was missing’
Shocked eyewitnesses recall horror in the aftermath of London blasts

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 8:01 a.m. ET July 7, 2005

LONDON - “I was on the bus. I looked round and the seats behind me were gone.”

The middle-aged survivor of the bus blast in central London could not say any more.

Shocked, disorientated, and with oil and pieces of debris in her hair and clothes, she asked for directions to Holborn but refused all offers of help.

The scene was repeated again and again across central London as at least
six explosions rocked the capital on Thursday, killing several people and wounding scores, in what police fear were attacks to coincide with leaders of the Group of Eight nations meeting in Scotland.

“I was blown in the air and when I looked the back of the bus was missing,” an injured man told Sky News.

“There were people climbing down from the top of the bus, but the people in the front were probably hurt more; a lot of people are a lot worse off than me,” he said as he held a tissue to his left ear and a line of blood streamed down his neck and chest.

"It was a bomb, it has to be," he said.

Walking wounded
Most of the attacks centered on the city’s underground rail system.

Loyita Worley, 49, was travelling from Moorgate to Aldgate when her train was shaken by a large explosion.

“I saw an orange flickering on the side of the tunnel,” she said, adding 20 to 30 “walking wounded” had been led from the damaged carriage, which had been torn from “floor to ceiling.”

“Many were shaking, there were a lot of head injuries, it was very bloody,” she said.

One man’s clothes had been blown off and he was totally black with soot, she said, but passengers remained calm even as objects fell down onto the roof of the carriage.

Another witness, a computer programmer at a London investment bank, was in the same train when he heard an explosion in the carriage in front of him.

“There was a loud bang and everybody collapsed to the floor because of smoke. But everybody was very calm and we waited for people to direct us,” he said.

'Many stretcher cases'
Rescue crews were seen bringing scores of wounded people out of the Russell Square subway station after an underground explosion.

"Looking down onto Russell Square Tube station there's about 20 ambulances," Sky News reporter Mark White said.

"Doctors in orange boiler suits are emerging with the walking wounded and many stretcher cases. Once one ambulance is full another is there to take more casualties," he reported from a rooftop above the square.

Elsewhere, passengers caught in another subway blast spoke to BBC News.

“There were two trains passing each other in Edgware Road; there was a big bang and I believe it was in the second carriage that there’s a lot of injured people," a woman who appeared uninjured said.

“We was in the back carriage and when we went past there wasn’t any train left,” another woman said.

'Bomb', 'bombs', 'explosions'
Traffic wardens, police support officers and private security guards were all drafted in to man the cordons.

Policemen spoke of “a bomb” or “bombs,” or of “explosions.” The slowly expanding police cordon pushed before it droves of confused office workers, evacuated from the surrounding streets.

The cellphone networks quickly became jammed with callers trying to reassure loved ones of their safety, and shops filled with people begging the use of a phone. Some young women in a hairdressers’ shop were in tears.

People talked of hearing explosions, but the lightly concealed panic as the police combed the area for bombs made any degree of clarity impossible.

Traffic halted completely, engines off, the police lines blocking escape routes for all but cycles and motorcycles. But the uncanny absence of motor noise was hidden by the constant howl of sirens.
Reuters contributed to this report.

The wreckage of bus that blew up near Russell Square is seen after a series of explosions struck London on Thursday.
Oliver Lim / Solo via Zuma Press

 

[Lollipop]

I would not wish this on any country, but Tony Blair has stood beside America, when other's would not!!
I thought it would cost him his job and may still!! But he has been our friend and I hate this is happening to his Country!!

 

[TDWoj]

According to my news report source, at least 12 people were killed. I don't know if that was confirmed or unconfirmed.

This is absolutely barbaric.

 

[Lollipop]

Especially since those people were not in on any decision making!! The innocent are the one's that suffer the most!!

 

[TDWoj]

It's the innocent that these terrorists target, because to them, they are not innocent, and therefore, their lives are forfeit.

Here's what they released - according to the German paper, Der Speigel, it was "a branch of al Quaeda operating in Europe:

"Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan,'' said the statement, which was translated by The Associated Press in Cairo after the magazine published the text on its website.

"The heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west,'' the statement said.

The authenticity of the message could not be immediately confirmed."

I'm more glad than ever that Canada stayed out of Iraq (although now we have the Palestinians to worry about since we declared Hamas a terrorist organisation, but that's another story).

As for their comment about being "heroic" - oh, yes. It takes a lot of courage to plant bombs among unarmed non-combatants and blow them all to kingdom come. Heroic, indeed. And they wonder why Westerners have the deplorable tendency to condemn Muslims (despite not all being guilty) after such "heroic" deeds.

 

[Serena]

Thanks for posting the news, Lollipop. According to the latest update on the internet news, there are 40 reported dead and 300 with injuries. Of course, I'm sure those numbers will vary, as they tend to under these chaotic circumstances. Such a terribly senseless tragedy, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those injured and to the families of the victims.


1) The wrecked double decker bus near Tavistock Square after an explosion in central London, Thursday, July 7, 2005. At least 33 people were killed Thursday in three explosions in London's subway system, a senior police official said. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick said others died in an explosion on the bus in central London but gave no figures.

2) The scene at Tavistock Square, with debris on the ground and bloodstains on the wall, following a bus explosion there, in London, Thursday July 7, 2005. At least 40 people have been killed in explosions in London, a U.S. law enforcement official says. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because British officials have yet to make public the death toll, but U.S. officials learned of the number from their British counterparts.

3) The scene following an explosion on a bus, at Tavistock Square in London, Thursday July 7, 2005 in this mobile phone camera image.

4 & 5) The remains of a London bus that was destroyed by a bomb sit near Tavistock Square in London, July 7, 2005.

 

[TDWoj]

I have a writer friend who lives in London, and I have just heard from her - she is all right, thank goodness. But the stations that were hit were ones she frequents, and it just happened that today, she couldn't afford to go out anywhere. Never thought being broke could be a good thing!

 

[hofmae]

Yeah, thats another act of terror. Im so sad thinking about this innocent people who last again their lives. I will support the war against terror with everything i have and everything i can do. Because we must show the terrorists that we are in this times strong too. We must bring them all to justice. My hate is growing against terrorsits with every day i see innocent people day. And with every day i see this i see more that the only way against people like this is WAR.

 

[AikiRooster]

I feel like giving the terrorists some Pork.

With the way these a holes do things it makes me wonna give them a huge feast of Pork. I just don't see how we will ever stop terrorism in free countries unfortunately, without rounding up all the Arabs and investiagte them as well as interogate them to see if they are connected to terrorism or Al Qaeda.

The only good thing about war is that gives the living more parking spaces to choose from.

 

[Littledragon]

With the way these a holes do things it makes me wonna give them a huge feast of Pork. I just don't see how we will ever stop terrorism in free countries unfortunately, without rounding up all the Arabs and investiagte them as well as interogate them to see if they are connected to terrorism or Al Qaeda.
The only good thing about war is that gives the living more parking spaces to choose from.

That is totally an ignorant remark! Not all Arabs are terrorists! Was Timmonthy Mcvey Arab? Or the Ku Klux Klan? Or the Russian Black Coats?

 

[AikiRooster]

Calm down LittleDragon.

Hey I understand that Little Dragon. Of course that is one way to look at it. I agree it is severe but not ignorant. I already thought of that, if they wonna investigate and interogate me because I'm white like McVeigh, fine, I have nothing to hide. Which is partly the point. All folks should be willing to open there closets to the governement just to make sure the individual being investigated/interrogated are not a threat to the homeland. If you have nothing to hide you ought to not be concerned about the government checking on you. What you said is a valid point Little Dragon but also obvious. I wouldn't dare suggest something I wasn't willing to go through myself. I'd even volunteer to be the first to be investigated/interrogated.

 

[AikiRooster]

Jeesh. Trying to avoid LittleDragon wedgies.

LittleDragon:

I am well aware that not all Arabs are terrorists as well. However, we will never know which ones are ok to be here and which ones are not without something drastic like this happening. The same with any nationality, race creed religion whatever, I think it ought to be easier for the government to check on an individual in a time of war and especially so in regards to terrrorism since it is so easy for terrorists to blend in with normal/regular society.

Yes, I think the same can be said with White folks being checked to make sure the White men are not pedophiles since statistics show most pedaphiles are White men. White men ought to be investigated/interrogated as well to make sure there not pervs. I'd be a wonderful President don't ya think?

 

[KimonoSoul]

I'm disappointed and very sad....

Terrorists couldn't destroy America...and they sure as hell won't destroy London. To the terrorists: guys, give it up. The "point" you are trying to prove is...for lack of a better word...pointless. Too bad you all can't figure out that randomly hurting innocent people accomplishes nothing. You all accomplished nothing in New York City. You accomplished nothing in London. You may have broken a lot of hearts, but you haven't broken any spirits. I pray that someday soon, you will see the error of your ways, and work for peace.

To my brothers and sisters across the pond in London (and all of England): I'm thinking of you all, I'm praying for you all. Even though your hearts are broken, don't let your spirits be broken. We are all here to help you heal. We all love you. Please be strong and take care of each other.

 

[Amos Stevens]

Heard this first thing turning on the news this morning...they're interviewing via the phone this lady who used to be a newscaster here-ironically she is in London visiting her son who had just bought a subway ticket when the blast hit.

 

[Serena]

This was an excerpt from an Associated Press article. If anything can be called "good" coming from a tragedy like this, it's the way people come together--of any nationality or religion--to help their fellow man.

"Doctors from the nearby British Medical Association rushed into the street to treat the wounded from the bus. "The front of BMA house was completely splattered with blood and not much of the bus was left," said Dr. Laurence Buckman. As the city's transportation system ground to a near-halt, buses were used as ambulances and an emergency medical station was set up at a hotel. Rescue workers, police and ordinary citizens streamed into the streets to help."

 

[TDWoj]

My writer friend in London said that as a result of the terrorist attacks during the 70s and 80s from the IRA, Londoners are tending to respond rather more calmly to this sort of thing - they just get on with it.

Heroic - now *that* is true heroism, not the al Quaeda definition.

 

[cookie]

My writer friend in London said that as a result of the terrorist attacks during the 70s and 80s from the IRA, Londoners are tending to respond rather more calmly to this sort of thing - they just get on with it.

Strangley enough, I think this is true. I am in London and my husband, brother in law and many friends work in the city.

It's not like we expect things to happen it's just if they do, we get on with it.

The emergency services were fantastic.

Mind you, the 15 mintues it took for me to find out if my Husband was OK, was pretty scary.

Whoever asked about Glimmer? he is in Liverpool.

 

[BillyRayLancing]

Lets face it - with all the damage of 65 years ago in the blitz we didnt give up - were not gonna give up to these small time goons.