Blasts Hit London Bus And Underground

[padi56]

An explosion has "ripped a bus apart" just minutes after a number of blasts on London's Underground.Scotland Yard has confirmed there has been an explosion on a bus in Tavistock Place. Union sources claim there have been reports of blasts on three different buses.

Witness Belinda Seabrook said she saw an explosion rip though a bus as it approached Russell Square.

"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," she said.

Scotland Yard could not confirm reports of an explosion on a bus in Russell Square. A spokeswoman said police were at the scene and attempting to determine what had happened.

The entire Tube network has been shut down following the blasts at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.

It is understood several people have been wounded in the underground blasts, with one unconfirmed eyewitness telling Sky News he saw "bodies on the line".

British Transport Police confirmed there are "walking wounded" and said paramedics have responded to one report of a person classed as "life at risk".

"It's chaos, with people trying to work out what has happened," said a spokesman.

One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from King's Cross when there was a huge flash.

The train stopped and people were using umberellas to smash windows of the trains. Passengers were led out of the train by underground staff.

He added people were milling around King's Cross covered in soot.

Clare Benson, 33, a city banker from Kensington, was on a tube at Edware Road where the second incident took place.

"I was in the last carriage at the back of the train nearest the tunnel when I heard a huge bang - you could feel it," she said.

"The lights went off for a couple of minutes and people were scared and wondering what to do.

"The drivers got out and were looking into the tunnel, then they announced that we should evacuate. My ears are still ringing and I was shaking."

A series of explosions have brought down the closure of the London Underground network.Sky News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm

[Uncle-AJ]

Very sad news Padi. I've just turned on Sky News for an update. Not good news at all.

[padi56]

No Adrian looks like bomb attacks,several dead many injuries,and after yesterdays
good Olympic news ?

[Uncle-AJ]

I've just tried to text Shane but had no reply. I hope he's alright.

[padi56]

Me too, met him a great chap.

[Uncle-AJ]

I managed to contact Nick (Nick Islander) and he said the mobile systems were swamped with people trying to contact friends and relatives. Hopefully we will hear from him when he manages to get out of the city.

[dman]

This is not good at all!! I hope everyone is safe and sound. May justice come to the slime that is responsible.

[Rockrolex]

They are nothing but slimy cowards who deserve this:

[Southern Jessie]

Hope this post reaches everyone but just to say that I'm ok here in London. Will hopefully get home alright and will post when I get home.

Thanks for all your concerns

Shane

[dman]

Glad to hear it Shane!! Hope all your loved ones are okay too!!

[padi56]

Glad to hear your Ok Shane.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Southern Jessie

Hope this post reaches everyone but just to say that I'm ok here in London. Will hopefully get home alright and will post when I get home.

Thanks for all your concerns

Shane

Good to hear, Shane. We were a bit concerned about you.

[BruceS]

Tam's brother contacted her on Skype to tell of the blasts. He said it was a real mess in London, as one would expect. Love your new name Shane! I guess we have Adrian to thank for that!

[padi56]

Could be up to 40 dead but is expected to rise

[Uncle-AJ]

It's great to hear you are OK Shane, I got a bit worried when there was no reply to my text but Nick confirmed the telephone system was swamped. I managed to contact Leigh (Andyh) and he has been working on the night shift and had just got out of bed to hear the sad news.

[padi56]

Latest from the BBC:

A series of bomb attacks on London's transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 350 others.
There were three explosions on the Underground - which police said left 33 dead - and one on a double-decker bus in which an unknown number died. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has returned to London from the G8 summit, has described the attack as "barbaric".

An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.

The Queen said she was "deeply shocked" and sent her sympathy to those affected and the Union Jack was flying at half mast over Buckingham Palace.

Blast timeline
0851 Seven people die in a blast on a train 100 yards from Liverpool Street station
0856 21 people die in a blast on a train between Russell Square and King's Cross stations
0917 Five people die in blast on a train at Edgware Road station
0947 An unknown number die in a blast on a bus at Tavistock Place.

US President George Bush told reporters at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles that "the war on terror goes on." Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick confirmed 33 people had died in the blasts on the Underground. He said there were 21 confirmed fatalities following the blast at 0856 BST in a tunnel between King's Cross and Russell Square. There were seven confirmed deaths after a blast at 0851 BST 100 yards into a tunnel from Liverpool Street station. The train was either a Central Line or Circle Line train. And at 0917 BST an explosion on a train coming into Edgware Road underground station blew a hole through a wall onto another train in an adjoining platform. He said it was not yet known how many died in the bus blast at 0947 at the junction of Upper Woburn Place and Tavistock Square.

London Ambulance Service said it had treated 45 patients with serious or critical injuries including burns, amputations, chest and blast injuries and fractured limbs. Some 300 more people were treated for minor injuries including lacerations and smoke inhalation, LAS assistant chief officer Russell Smith added.

[Southern Jessie]

Hi folks

I made it back home ok - I was one of the lucky ones that managed to get to a station which was open and get my trains.

Thanks for everyone's best wishes......

Shane

[Uncle-AJ]

I suppose most people got the day off. Is it back to normal tomorrow?

I remember being in London during the IRA terror alerts. Brenda and I had to take a long detour to get to the Comedy Playhouse but we made it in time for the show. One thing about you Southern Jessies, you have great resolve and weather any storm. Almost as good as us northern cavemen.

[BruceS]

I've missed chatting with you mate! Tam will be in London for an overnighter in a few weeks. One of these days we'll all get to go back together for an extended stay. i still want to move back there!

Hope things are more back to normal for you tomorrow!
Cheers,
Bruce

[JJ Irani]

Hi fellas,

This is terrible news. Heard it last night (my time) over the radio just as I was about to go to bed.

Last I heard this morning....37 dead with several hundreds injured. Some members of Al Queida have claimed responsibility for the series of explosions.

When will all this ever end? When will these slime balls be gutted once and for all?

JJ

[Southern Jessie]

The list of casualties is increasing every hour. Transport will get back to some sort of normality by tomorrow but I will still be quite anxious until I reach my building.

There is an air of defiance here.....we may haver our problems with each other but when something like this happens, we come together as one.

A guy I know from Turf said he was on his motorbike riding to work and the bus that exploded near Tavistock Square was just 200 yards ahead of him when it happened :(

[BruceS]

There is an air of defiance here.....we may haver our problems with each other but when something like this happens, we come together as one.

Sounds just like what Americans were saying after 9/11

[dman]

Originally Posted by BruceS

Sounds just like what Americans were saying after 9/11

That was cool to see, I wish it stayed around longer though.

[padi56]

Lets hope they catch the cowardly lowlife terrorist bastards.

[Uncle-AJ]

They will Peter. These low life's should read their history books and remember what happened at the battle of Antioch. We will not be defeated.

[Earl]

Glad to hear you fine Shane, take care and be careful. World Terrorism is no joke and seems some parts of the world atm are getting re-aquinted with it. (sorry to see and hear it) Freedom is not FREE, alot of good men and women have lost life and limb in support of it.

[Manatee]

I was shocked to hear about it this morning. It makes me very angry, and of course a bit fearful. In the big picture, these terrorists can't possibly win -- they can only ruin the lives of a few families. They are brainwashed, and wasting their lives. How sad.

The last few days I've been using the DC Metro because I'm taking a course at Microsoft up in Maryland. This morning everyone was eyeing everyone else's bags suspiciously. It would be so easy for acts like those in London to take place here.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Manatee

This morning everyone was eyeing everyone else's bags suspiciously. It would be so easy for acts like those in London to take place here.

Scary, but very true Peter.

[JJ Irani]

These ba$tards have the uncanny knack of striking when everyone is lax and people are least expecting it.

Wonder if these attacks have anything to do with the fact that London was nominated for 2012 Olympics? Coincidence perhaps?

JJ

[Gedanken]

Nah, word seems to be that it's more likely to be related to the timing of the G8 summit. Not that it matters - for whatever reason, the dirtbags have killed a lot of innocent people.