posted July 07, 2005 06:16 AM         

3 double decker buses have been blown up and there have been devices found at several tube stations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659093.stm

posted July 07, 2005 06:36 AM         

'Thursday 07 July, 2005

Explosions hit London, casualties reported

LONDON (Reuters) - A series of explosions rocked London's transport system at rush hour on Thursday morning, causing numerous casualties and leaving millions of passengers in shock, police said.

The causes of the incidents -- which occurred one day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics and as leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations met in Scotland -- were unknown but police said many of the city's underground stations were affected.

"It is too early to state what has happened," a London police spokesman said. "I cannot comment on reports of bombs, but we have had multi-reports of explosions around London."

People were seen streaming out of one underground station covered with blood and soot. Passengers were evacuated from stations across the capital, many in shock and with their clothes ripped to shreds, witnesses said.

The entire system was shut down and major thoroughfares were blocked off by police and ambulance services.

An explosion also occurred on a bus at Tavistock Square in central London, a policeman told Reuters.

"There have been some casualties and this has been declared as a major incident," said a spokeswoman for London's Metropolitan Police.

Emergency services rushed to the Aldgate East underground station where police reported one incident at 8:59 a.m. local time (0759 GMT), the spokeswoman said.

"There were people streaming out of Aldgate station covered in blood," said Kate Heywood, 27, on her way to work.

"There are shards of glass there, it is chaos," she added.

A Reuters corresondent at Oxford Circus station, at the heart of the underground system, heard an announcement over the public-address system saying: "A power outage has occurred London-wide. All train services are suspended."

A station official said: "All the power has gone down. I don't know when it'll come back."

Police sealed off large areas around other underground and mainline rail stations. Firemen donned chemical protection suits before rushing into stations.

posted July 07, 2005 06:47 AM         

Just confirmed it's Al-Qaeda

posted July 07, 2005 06:54 AM         

I used to live in Kings Cross and got the 205 bus (the one that blew up outside the British Medical Association) everyday to work. I feel totally shaken.

posted July 07, 2005 06:57 AM         

Just on the phone to someone - going to work at Milend (east London) - of all places! He said he heard a loud explosion which sounded far away as we were on the phone. On edge, can't concentrate on work.

posted July 07, 2005 07:32 AM         

quote:

---

'TWISTED' WANT CREDIT

Terrorists will be clamouring the claim responsibility for the blasts in London, experts say.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has concluded the explosions were a "co-ordinated" attack on the Underground and buses.

Terrorism expert Professor Eric Moonman told Sky News: "Because of what is going on Scotland some of the twisted minds of the terrorists will all want to claim credit for this action. There will be a lot of people who will want to say we did it."

Prof Moonman added terrorists are "attracted" to areas which are crowded with people.

"It's where the normal public go day-to-day that is always an attraction for the terrorist mind," he said.

"It's a twisted mind and that's why we're finding that the heart of London is almost closed down.

"The bus is a public vehicle and this is what was found in Madrid and what the Israelis have to live with because they know it produces the most terrible and terrifying of pictures and it makes a story.

"We haven't been up to the mark on this... nevertheless, this isn't the moment to apportion blame. But there is a massive job to be done, confidence has to be restored and then we have to start to think about where they are coming from.

"The fact is, you can do any crime if you really want to."

---

Bus ripped apart in Russell Square;

posted July 07, 2005 09:43 AM         

Sending Love and Light To All!!!

Cardinalgal, Hope all yours are O.K also!!!

Solane Star

posted July 07, 2005 10:02 AM         

LOVE AND LIGHT,

posted July 07, 2005 11:59 AM         

There are now more than 33 dead and the number's still rising. They don't know how many were killed on that bus.

Just heard from the last one on my list and they're all fine thank God!! Sheaa how about you and yours hon? Good news I hope.

Posted this on another thread so thought I'd post it here too:

It seems that it is Al Qaeda who've done this. One of our chief Metropolitan Police commisioners when asked about the links to Islamic terrorists gave a wonderful reply.
He said that as far as he understands Islam, this is totally against the teachings of that religion and that muslims are taught by the Koran to be peaceful and never to do harm to others. He also said that any terrorist who thinks he/she is doing this for Islam is sorely mistaken.
One of the bomb areas, Aldgate is an area heavily populated by Muslims and they are outraged just as everyone else is.

I really feel for everyone caught up in this and any other terrorist atrocity. These people are desperately sadly mistaken I think and in my opinion, 'terrorist' is just another word for psychopath. There is always another way to fight for your cause and get your point across - you only have to look at Ghandi to see how much more impactive a peaceful campaign can be than all this carnage.

Love to everyone as that's the only way to combat evil like this. Lots and lots and lots of love.