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LONDON BLASTED

A sequence of explosions, initially thought to be the result of an electrical overload, has occurred on the London Underground. Other blasts, however, are reported on city buses. A witness to one bus explosion, in Russell Square, claimed to see at least five dead in the vehicle’s remains.

Latest television reports indicate six explosions. A witness to one of the train explosions, on ABC television now, says dead bodies were on the tracks as he and other passengers were evacuated. CNN reports two deaths; casualties are around 90. The BBC:

Large numbers of casualties have been reported after at least six explosions on the Underground network and a double-decker bus in London.

Scotland Yard confirmed one of several reports of explosions on buses in the city - in Tavistock Place - but said the cause was not yet known.

UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke said several explosions in central London had caused “terrible injuries”.

All Tube services and bus services in central London have been suspended.

Constant updates here. For emergency information on Australians based in London, call 1300 555 135.

UPDATE: Janes.com reports:

A government spokesman confirmed at 1100BST that 20 people have been killed in the explosions and more than 90 people were injured.

Seven blasts are now confirmed. Look for updates from these UK blogs. Please list others in comments. Tony Blair now speaking from the G8 forum; he says it is “reasonably clear” the blasts are the result of a terrorist attack. He’ll leave for London shortly.

Posted by Tim B. on 07/07/2005 at 05:21 AM
  1. Two people confirmed dead.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2005 07 07 at 06:29 AM • permalink

  2. At least 100 injuries on latest estimates.

    Posted by Steve Edwards on 2005 07 07 at 06:29 AM • permalink

  3. anyone know of a blog recording what’s going on?

    Posted by mark on 2005 07 07 at 06:29 AM • permalink

  4. I’ve looked through the major UK blogs - nothing much yet, but many still to go.

    Posted by Steve Edwards on 2005 07 07 at 06:31 AM • permalink

  5. Russell Square was my old tube station . . . .it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

    Find out who did this, then send the SAS out to kill the fuckers. And their friends. And their supporters.

    Posted by Young and Free on 2005 07 07 at 06:32 AM • permalink

  6. Dammit Tim, youre always first!

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 06:33 AM • permalink

  7. We were so happy for you this morning our time,London.We are thinking of you,watching reports continuously.This is horribly like Sept 11 in U.S.Take care.

    Posted by crash on 2005 07 07 at 06:35 AM • permalink

  8. What a heart break….any chance the world will finally see that we have to finish this NOW!

    Posted by debi L. on 2005 07 07 at 06:37 AM • permalink

  9. Depends on who did it Debi, the IRA are still suspects.

    Posted by Aging Gamer on 2005 07 07 at 06:39 AM • permalink

  10. This won’t be the IRA

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 06:46 AM • permalink

  11. bastards! 

    just spoke to old colleagues in UK Treasury.  money markets trader picked up the phone and said “Murph, THIS IS FUCKING WAR!”

    Posted by murph on 2005 07 07 at 06:47 AM • permalink

  12. It will not be the IRA.  It will be Islamofascists.  I expect their usual sympathisers will be going on about a religion of peace or some such bollocks.

    Posted by Craig UK on 2005 07 07 at 06:49 AM • permalink

  13. Damn Baptists!!

    Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2005 07 07 at 06:49 AM • permalink

  14. Prayers for the dead and wounded of course.  Really doubt the ira has a thing to do with this.

    Posted by i4cu2 on 2005 07 07 at 06:49 AM • permalink

  15. Good call by terrorists to harden the resolve of the western world to see that the remainder of the vermin are crushed like bugs.

    Posted by CB on 2005 07 07 at 06:50 AM • permalink

  16. BBC have just said its definately Al-Qaeda, according to Arab sources.

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 06:50 AM • permalink

  17. Hi from England, talked to my relative in London he lives close and seems to think there are 100s of dead..lets hope not.

    The news have reports of people pasing carriges that are filled with bodies.

    With the same determination and courage that we won the 2012 olympics yesterday, will be used again today in different circumstances..and they will be used again and again if nessesary.

    3000 years of history says we will change nothing and appease no one, freedom still reigns.

    Posted by owls001 on 2005 07 07 at 06:52 AM • permalink

  18. TO: rexie
    RE: IRA? Islamists?

    This seems very similar to the Madrid blast. There, the initial thought was it was the Basque separatists. Only to discover, later, it was the Islamists.

    The Yard will probably do a thorough investigation. But I give a high probability to the Islamists causing this. And if that is the case, I think we’ll see a significant change in the English attitude towards immigration.

    I wonder what happened to all the ricin the Yard was looking for a while back….

    Regards,

    Chuck[(le)less]

    Posted by cbpelto on 2005 07 07 at 06:52 AM • permalink

  19. Is anyone (esp. in the media) checking out what’s going on in some of London’s more “well known” mosques right now?

    Posted by Richard_of_Oz on 2005 07 07 at 06:55 AM • permalink

  20. Well it has finally happened.
    Innocent londoners have been butchered because their governments have turned the other cheek and been intimidated by politically correct media and left wingers.
    Is this the alliance with Islam that the Marxists wanted?
    For God’s sake we must all wake up to the horrors of Islamic slaughter!And our politicians have to ACT!
    Will they now blame Blair’s alliance with GWB for this outrage instead ot the perpetrators!
    ONly last week a friend asked me why i was not visiting London this year. I replied that i did not think London was safe!!!

    Posted by davo on 2005 07 07 at 06:55 AM • permalink

  21. I should think this is certainly al qaeda and I’m sure the anti-war lobby here in the UK will say that we brought this on ourselves.  People say all kind of stupid things at times like these.

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 06:58 AM • permalink

  22. Davo thats ridiculous, and this is definately no time to throw politics in. That was very cheap and inappropriate.

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 07:00 AM • permalink

  23. At least Ken Livingstone is out of town, so we don’t have to listen to his lame gibberish and apologist drivel, and the rescue efforts should proceed unhindered. It may still have been accidental, but it’s highly unlikely; London was always a prime target becuase of its profile and large Islamic population- a fairly lame-duck government that panders to the “rights” of dingbats like Mullah Hookey and his followers has been putting its population at risk for some time. I hope casualties are light, but I also doubt if this will be enough to make the West bite the bullet and take these gutless turds on, and on their own turf.

    Posted by Habib on 2005 07 07 at 07:01 AM • permalink

  24. I am sure the london mosques will be filled with upset people.  I can hear it now, “those stupid racist kafirs are givng me really mean looks”.  I also wonder how long before the bbc interviews someone in a mosque and ask them “what did we do to cause your pain”?

    Posted by i4cu2 on 2005 07 07 at 07:01 AM • permalink

  25. Rexie, BBC says its definately Al-Qaeda.

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 07:01 AM • permalink

  26. This guy is live blogging from London:

    http://europhobia.blogspot.com/2005/07/london-tube-explosions.html

    Posted by TimShell on 2005 07 07 at 07:01 AM • permalink

  27. Heard that Nic

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 07:02 AM • permalink

  28. Blair speaking now

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 07:02 AM • permalink

  29. Blair leaving G8

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 07:03 AM • permalink

  30. TO: Richard_of_Oz
    RE: Check It Out

    “Is anyone (esp. in the media) checking out what’s going on in some of London’s more “well known” mosques right now?”—Richard_of_Oz

    I would like to think that someone is in there.

    TO: rexie
    RE: The Leftists

    “..I’m sure the anti-war lobby here in the UK will say that we brought this on ourselves.”—rexie

    No doubt. And the so-called major media will spend more air-time noticing them than anyone else.

    Regards,

    Chuck(le)[less]

    Posted by cbpelto on 2005 07 07 at 07:05 AM • permalink

  31. What’s the betting the morons in masks outside the G8 meeting are cheering this act of bastardry?

    Posted by Habib on 2005 07 07 at 07:06 AM • permalink

  32. Good statement by Blair - hope he’s right about our determination to defend our values being stronger than the extremists’ desire to undermine them

    Posted by rexie on 2005 07 07 at 07:08 AM • permalink

  33. Does anyone know if there have been Australians hurt. Because of the sites of the bombs it is hard not to expect that they have managed to hurt some of the many Australians working in London City.
    Our daughter, husband and friends have had a number of anxious hours, the mobile network was down.

    Posted by Ros on 2005 07 07 at 07:10 AM • permalink

  34. Davo! Fix your email account please. I am getting your bounced emails. If you can’t fix your account, at least turn off email notifications (see the instructions below the comment box).

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 07 07 at 07:12 AM • permalink

  35. This barbaric attack on innocent londoners is an attack on democracy and western civilisation and it is high time for the apologist and fifth columnists for Islamic militancy to realise their contribution to these awful events . And yes i would include the BBC in this list,
    They are luxury that the British or for that matter our own Australia can no longer afford.
    Habib, i’m sure that if red Ken tries to use this to attavk the british Government, he will be doing it on the back of the London dead and will suffer accordingly.
    Why did Europe believe that in opening the gates to Islamic immigration, they would escape the sad fate of the Hindus in India and virtually every non Islamic country throughout history which had done the same.

    Posted by davo on 2005 07 07 at 07:13 AM • permalink

  36. BBC now reporting that a european website that acts as a mouthpiece for El Que’da is claiming repsonsibility. May be a hoax.
    Idiot on the BBC has also managed to attribute the attack to Iraq, the G8 and Israel. No mention of a campaign to establish a caliphate.

    Posted by Habib on 2005 07 07 at 07:13 AM • permalink

  37. Nic White if it isnt politically motivated then what is it?

    It is al Qaida and it was designed for maximum political effect.

    Another page in the centuries old war on freedom.

    Posted by rog2 on 2005 07 07 at 07:18 AM • permalink

  38. Nic if this is Islamists how can it not be seen as political. At some point we have to confront who it is that is killing westerners for being westerners.
    It is not the time to look at the politics of these murders. So when is it OK to consider the political motives of these bastards.

    Posted by Ros on 2005 07 07 at 07:18 AM • permalink

  39. Thanks Andrea . I recently got braodband and had to change my email.

    Posted by davo on 2005 07 07 at 07:19 AM • permalink

  40. Nic White

    The first ‘inappropriate’ comment was yours.

    “Dammit Tim, youre always first!”

    Posted by Gary on 2005 07 07 at 07:19 AM • permalink

  41. http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2005/07/blitz-comes-to-london.html

    But terrorism will remind the world as often as it needs reminding that there isn’t room enough on the planet for Islamic terror and civilization.

    The anglosphere is bad news to attack, I think.

    Wm. F. Buckley 9/14/2001, that the United States will henceforth no longer coinhabit the globe with 11th century governments.

    Posted by rhhardin on 2005 07 07 at 07:19 AM • permalink

  42. I just got an email from a navy mate of mine in London. Unconfirmed death count nearly 100.

    Did this attack happen at the same time as Sept 11?

    Posted by Guardian_Angel on 2005 07 07 at 07:28 AM • permalink

  43. did this attack happen at the same time as Sept 11?

    No, 9/11 was at 8:45 EDST, and it’s 7:30 EDST as I write this.

    Posted by rhhardin on 2005 07 07 at 07:34 AM • permalink

  44. Post from me:

    http://52nd.blogspot.com/2005/07/london-train-bombing.html

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 07:44 AM • permalink

  45. All those who think the ASIO raids in Melbourne were unnecessary - do you still think we shouldn’t have allowed them?

    Posted by Razor on 2005 07 07 at 07:46 AM • permalink

  46. Project Nothing has updates and links

    Posted by SezaGeoff on 2005 07 07 at 07:48 AM • permalink

  47. At least this time the ABC is giving proper coverage…..

    Posted by entropy on 2005 07 07 at 07:48 AM • permalink

  48. From The Corner at NR:

    BERLIN (AP)—A group calling itself “Secret Organization—al-Qaida in Europe” has posted a claim of responsibility for the series of blasts in London, a German magazine reported Thursday.

    Der Spiegel magazine reported that the group posted its message on a Web site popular with Islamic militants, which it did not name. It said the group claimed the explosions were in retaliation for Britain’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Posted by ErnieG on 2005 07 07 at 08:06 AM • permalink

  49. Gary, it was in jest…

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 08:15 AM • permalink

  50. Oh! haha what a jolly joke,Nic White.


    So the pimping for trific was also?

    Posted by Gary on 2005 07 07 at 08:22 AM • permalink

  51. So youve never trackbacked before?


    Shorthand from the Home Secretary’s speech to house and then questions from MPs

    Sympathies first.

    Not in a position to give precise details, lists 4 of the explosions, his data is out of date. Says its not clear who is responsibility.

    First responsibility to support and help the public. Police and medical are handling it well.

    All bus and train services are down, land transport wil be delayed, airports are fine. Avoid travelling to London.

    Blair will come from the G8 meeting.

    Someone else says:

    Acts of almost unspeakable depravity. “Not just an attack on our capital but on our contry and our way of life. It goes without saying that we will support the government.” Says its important the terrorists dont disrupt our lives.

    We should remain clear headed, they will not turn us against each other. Whatever its origin, the British people will not be cowed, and the terrorists will not win.

    HS again:

    Will provide public information in a chorent manner. Will communicate fact and and keep down speculation and rumor, which is why his statement was short.

    Someone else:

    Sympathies, commendation to emergency services. Says speculation temptation should be “resisted at all costs.” Agrees with HS.

    HS again:

    Agrees with other guy about speculation. Decisons will be taken upon what is know not what is speculated. Public should not rush to judgemnet either.

    Someone else (Dobson?):

    Condemns outrage. Long commendation to ES, saying they run towards danger not away from it. They dont do it for financial rewards, motivated by public service and sense of duty.

    HS again:

    Agrees.

    Northern Ireland guy:

    Salutes resucers and ES. Asks if the HS would try if he can to assure the next of kin get the information on relatives deaths before the press.

    HS:

    Yes, he will try to do that, but its a difficult process, but there is one there already, cannot garruntee.

    Posted by Nic White on 2005 07 07 at 08:26 AM • permalink

  52. “So youve never trackbacked before?”

    Um yes, comment 44 was not.

    Posted by Gary on 2005 07 07 at 08:34 AM • permalink

  53. Nic White -grow up or piss off.

    Posted by crash on 2005 07 07 at 08:47 AM • permalink

  54. You just don’t get it do you?

    Posted by crash on 2005 07 07 at 08:48 AM • permalink

  55. NO FIGHTS ON THE BLOG. Jesus, people.

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 07 07 at 10:40 AM • permalink

  56. Maybe if Blair’s and Jack Straw’s police had been infiltrating terrorist and Islamicicist networks instead of eating in Chinese and Indian resturants waiting to arrest people for mimicking Chinese and Indian accents (Operation Napkin! true!) or stamping out politically incorrect jokes and activities like flying the Union Jack, this wouldn’t have happened.

    Posted by Susan Norton on 2005 07 07 at 11:38 AM • permalink

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