Explosion In London

[BasketCase]

Doesn't matter to me who's responsible. Could be Al-Qaeda, could be the IRA, could be a random nutcase like the UNAbomber.

Find whoever did it, hook them up to London's power grid, and make popcorn out of them.

 

[Zardnaar]

Just on TV over here now. Wonder if people will rally around Blair or blame him.

 

[DAv2003]

Six blasts and only 20 casualties so far. That's 20 too many at any rate but with the amount of blasts I'm thankful it isn't any more. And Tony Blair is making a statment at 12 GMT. Hopefully there'll be some answers.

 

[Akka]

From the little we know right now, I'm doubtful it's Al-Qaeda who did it.

They usually go for maximum casualties, and for now it seems there is minimal deaths, particularly when you think about how many people you can blast in the subway with a single bomb.

Unless they a PR thing with "we were nice this time, either you pull out or we will start to be really bad the next one".

 

[FearlessLeader2]

You just don't expect this sort of thing to happen on your own doorstep... If it's a terrorist attack..........

...stupid Blair...

But I'm still hopetomistic that it's "just" a random tragedy.

Please tell me you're not accusing Blair of planting these bombs...

(what a yutz)

My sympathy to the people of London. God save the Queen.

 

[JoeM]

Casualty figures have been discounted, there's still confusion.

Power surges discounted as cause for Underground explosions.


Mayor flying back from Singapore.

Six confirmed explosions on buses.

Unknown events caused explosions on Underground.

 

[thisispete]

Doesn't matter to me who's responsible. Could be Al-Qaeda, could be the IRA, could be a random nutcase like the UNAbomber.

It won't be a lone-nut because there have been multiple explosions coordinated at rush hour. I'm guessing it's either Al-Qaeda or anarchists.

 

[Zardnaar]

Damn al quaeda bastards, all of them should be hanged to death

Don't automatically blame AQ. Agree with everything else.

 

[Thedrin]

I can only hope that this is the extent of the attack, which there can be little doubt that this is.

In the morning rush hour the center of London fills up. Now the entire public transport system has been shut down. Many roads appear to be closed but this will be irrelevant since most use the public transporty system. The point is the people filling up the city center have no where to go and are crowded into a fairly small space.

 

[Cilpot]

"20 casualties So far"

It's still early, the casualties will probably continue to rise to a much higher number

 

[CoolioVonHoolio]

i bet its some angry french guys, their mad they're didnt get the olympics.
i was watching ABC news and it said there was like 5 undergoundexplosions and at least 3 busses blown up.

 

[JoeM]

I can hear sirens regularly wailing past from my desk....

 

[Rambuchan]

I've just been watching the news on both Sky and BBC and also phoned some friends in London. Here is what is happening:

Multiple Explosions have happened on Buses AND the Underground.

Locations include:

1) Aldgate (underground - 90 reported casualties) - this is bang in the middle of the financial district, I used to live and work here and it is packed with people and many of the world's wealthiest institutes are situated here.

2) Liverpool Street (underground - 50+ reported casualties) - This is just up the road from Aldgate.

3) Russell Square (one bus blown up, unconfirmed second - 100+ casualties) - This is approaching the commercial West End of London. It's not far from the major Legal district and there are some equally old and iconically British institutes near here.

4) King's Cross (underground) - This is the MAJOR train station in London. Most of the northern rail traffic, including the most heavily used rail line in the country, flows into this station and there are dense road systems all around it.

5) Paddington Station (not sure if it's bus or tube) - A similar station to Kings Cross, more westerly. Haven't heard much of this.

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~ The Police and Emergency Reaction: These areas are swarming with Emer. Forces. All locations above have been closed down and people are being gathered into hotels and restaurants or being told to get right away. It seems the EF are well preprared for this. They are swinging in rehersed plans to respond to these happenings. However, there were mixed messages and misunderstandings at the beginning. Many police reported that these were accidents, or power surges. Now they know it clearly isn't.

~ Transport: The whole tube has been closed done. All buses in Zone 1 have been suspended.

~ Communications: My Sky network connection has gone down. We only have terrestrial television working. Our BT phone line is not working, it seems this is due to a huge surge in demand.

~ Leadership Reaction: Tony Blair has cut off talks at the G8 and is flying back to London. He is due to make a statement soon. We have had a briefing from the Home Secretary, telling us of the plans ebing put into operation. Ken Livingstone (mayor of London) is coming back by plane from Singapore as we speak.

I hope to post up some more later.

 

[BasketCase]

It won't be a lone-nut because there have been multiple explosions coordinated at rush hour. I'm guessing it's either Al-Qaeda or anarchists.

One guy building six bombs with wristwatches for timers.

Edit: could also be two or three random nutcases--Timothy McVeigh was a random nutcase, and it turns out he didn't work alone.

 

[CoolioVonHoolio]

good post rambuchan very informational.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

It could have been the violent anti globalisation people who are responsible, and not Al Qaeda.

 

[Rambuchan]

The police have now publicly blamed this on Al Q

 

[CoolioVonHoolio]

Edit: could also be two or three random nutcases--Timothy McVeigh was a random nutcase, and it turns out he didn't work alone.

FRENCH random nutcases! they're mad they didnt get the olympics.

 

[JoeM]

The police have now publicly blamed this on Al Q

Source?

I've been listening to the Met Chief and heard no such.

 

[Bartleby]

From the little we know right now, I'm doubtful it's Al-Qaeda who did it.

They usually go for maximum casualties, and for now it seems there is minimal deaths, particularly when you think about how many people you can blast in the subway with a single bomb.

Unless they a PR thing with "we were nice this time, either you pull out or we will start to be really bad the next one".

I agree that we should not leap to conclusions, but bombs in rush-hour transportation seems like going for maximum casualtie to me.