From Suzette's two corrupted threads:

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London's entire Underground railway network has been suspended after a blast and another "incident" shook the system, leaving several people wounded, officials and rescue workers said.
In a separate incident, an explosion also ripped through a bus at Tavistock Square in the centre of London, just minutes after the blast rocked the Underground, a police spokesman said.

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The rest of the story is
here on ABC News Online (Australian service) or here on Yahoo UK.

(The BBC News site isn't loading at the moment.)

This is my second attempt to post this; electronic gremlins made mischief with the other one, so apologies for any confusion. Stupid gremlins.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Anchoress ]

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Anchoress ]

I've just seen an image of the bus that was hit at Tavistock Square, and it was peeled open like a sardine can.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Suzette ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1523189,00.html

The explosions in London look like an attempt to recreate the Madrid bombings and would have been planned for months, a leading terrorism expert said today as the capital began to come to terms with an apparently coordinated attack.

Michael Clarke, director of the Centre for Defence Studies at King's College London, said six bombs would mean at least 24 people involved in planting them in a targeted operation. The fact that London had been hit when the resources of the security forces were focused on the G8 summit at Gleneagles indicated some clever thinking by terrorists.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Geneva ]

The CBC is currently reporting only 2 deaths and 9 serious injuries. I know that it's of little consolation, but this could have been much, much worse. Thankfully, these particular terrorists were quite stupid (obviously), quite ineffective, or both.

Let's hope that this is it finished, huh?

Injured tube passengers are escorted away from London subway station. (CP Photo)

quote:

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Two people are dead and scores injured after six near simultaneous explosions rocked London's public transit system Thursday morning.

All London hospitals are on major incident alert, the city's emergency plan is in full gear and the subway system is shut down after blasts on one city bus and at least five subway stations.
Injured tube passengers are escorted away from London subway station. (CP Photo)

The roof was blown off a tourist double-decker bus near Russell Square station in central London around 10 a.m. local time.

There has been no confirmation of deaths in the bus blast, but witnesses have reported seeing bodies under sheets.

Fire trucks and ambulances raced to a number of subway stations after blasts were reported shortly before 9 a.m. local time.

Police have confirmed two deaths and nine injured in the subway blasts. Witnesses say there are many "walking wounded" coming from the Underground, some covered in soot and blood.

London Police Chief Ian Blair said "incidents" were reported at the following subway stations: Aldgate station, Edgeware Road, King's Cross, Old Street, Moorgate and Russell Square.

Officials initially blamed a power surge for the subway blasts, but the police chief has since said he's concerned the blasts are a "co-ordinated attack." Evidence of explosive material has been found at one of the sites, he said.

Italy's European commissioner, Franco Frattini called the explosions a terrorist strike.

There has been no claim of responsibility.

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[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

Here's the link to the radio (using RealPlayer) that I'm currently listening to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/live/surestream_int.ram

If the link doesn't work, you can get to the radio through the bbc URL.

I just realised that one of the explosions was at or near the tube station in Edgeware, which is really near where I lived when I lived in London.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Anchoress ]

quote:

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A series of six explosions on London's subway and transit system sent financial markets plunging Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 index dropping by four per cent or 200 points within the first two hours.

Stock prices and the British pound fell steeply, while European markets also lost between three and four per cent by 6:30 a.m. EDT, about two hours after first news reports of the incidents.

Sterling hit a 19-month low against the U.S. dollar and insurance stocks took a dive, while traditionally safe gold and the Swiss franc gained.

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quote:

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Originally posted by audra:
I think posting updates is just fine.

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The BBC newsreader was just handed a note saying that an Islamic group has claimed responsibility for the blast, but I didn't catch any more of that. Often there's a rush of claimants after blasts, of course, so that's probably not to be taken too seriously yet.

Oh, and they took time out to mention that the pound and FTSE are down. Nice.

Apparently there's a big rescue operation just getting underway at Kings Cross underground, so there could be more casualties, sadly. God, it's awful.

edited to add that it's reported that it's al-Qaeda claiming responsibility.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Suzette ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:
D'ya think maybe it's the French Olympic Committee behind it?

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D'ya think anyone's laffing?

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: RP. ]

Most recent: 2 dead, 10 critical, 7 of which are 'serious', and about 100 injured in total. That'll probably rise, methinks.

Mobile phones are down, I'm 95% certain two of my friends wouldn't have been in there at that time.

quote:

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D'ya think anyone's laffing?

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Edit: Roger, audra.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: aRoused ]

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"I got off the train, walked off about five paces. There was a huge, I mean a huge, explosion which appeared to come from the back end of the train or the tunnel. Everybody just froze - what the hell's going on? Then everybody walked out of the station quite calmly ... There was no pushing. I went upstairs and got out. It was then you think how lucky you are."
Michael Searle, had just got off a Circle Line train from Victoria to Liverpool Street

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You will see Edgeware Road station near the centre; King's Cross/St Pancras is far right, midway down, and Russell Square is just below it. Liverpool Street is east of this map.

I really feel bad, though. Like kurichina, I'm very worried about how Blair is going to spin and twist this -- he's been prepared to go too far against civil liberties even against the will of most Brits, so think what he'll try now that he has a lot of shaken people onside for a while.

Must get back to work; I have a deadline with a publisher.

My God the horror in London.

My thoughts and prayers are with friends, colleagues across the pond.

I'm really rattled by this, too. I don't have any close friends or family there, but still...

Thank God she is ok.

edited for forgetting how to spell she

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: johnpauljones ]

But not johnpauljones' friend, which is great news.

I've just heard Tony's statement again, and he's mentioned how G8 is going to be saving the environment.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Suzette ]

CBC Radio reporter said she heard a "bang" from *inside* the office tower she was in "on the West Side" (wherever that was???)

Could the bus bombs have been meant for underground stations? Are their any underground stations near where the bombs went off in the busses.

Do you remember the bomb that went off on a bus at Aldwych, maybe fifteen years ago? (I must google that.)

transcript of Blair's statement (via CBC)

Photogallery (CBC and AP photos)

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

Off-topic: I don't think I've ever heard Bush mention "pandemic" when speaking about HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apparently two bombs went off while the trains were between stations, one in a station.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Anchoress ]

Just kidding. The British Library isn't in the old BM any longer. But still. That's only a couple of blocks away from Russell Square.

The BBC's website front is now 100% London news, with a colour change.

Timeline:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659331.stm

An eyewitness claimed the Tavistock Square bus was 'packed' before the explosion.

This is still early I fear that the totals will rise before the day is out.

JohnPaulJones I am glad to hear your friend is ok.

God, please let this not be the work of Muslims. and if it is, please let there not be a backlash against ordinary Muslims.

quote:

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(AP) The State Department has set up an emergency telephone line for people to call if any Americans were injured or missing in the series of explosions in London on Thursday.

People with information should call 1-888-407-4747

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Whoops, didn't see Bacchus's post - I was composing this one between tasks.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mohamad Khan:
God, please let this not be the work of Muslims. and if it is, please let there not be a backlash against ordinary Muslims.

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Mohamad I agree and hope that their is not a backlash against as you put it ordinary Muslims since we all know that ordinary people no matter what their religion do not resort to tacticts of terror.

We must all,no matter our religion or political beliefs work together to combat all forms of hate and fight together against the condemnation of an entire people because of the actions of a few
The BBC posted this story.

BBC reporter on site

One of the most telling parts of the story is the fact that one of the bus bombings occured under the watchful eyes of the Ghandi statue.

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Amid all the chaos of today's atrocities there was one particularly potent irony.

In the garden square where terrorists chose to ignite a bomb on a bus full of ordinary people is statue of Ghandi.

It overlooks the wreckage of attack and it was hard not to wonder what a man whose name is synonymous with change through peaceful protest would have thought of the events of 7 July 2005 and all that led up to them.

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The cbc.ca story mentioned this up until about five minutes ago, when it changed to saying there are no confirmed claims of responsibility, so I'm not sure what might have happened, but it sounds like they may think that's false.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Alix ]

Again, why? That is Eastcheap / Whitechapel / Spitalfields, for pity's sakes. That's old Jack the Ripper territory. Until very recently, it was an extremely poor area in parts, although it does border on the old financial district (north and east of the Bank of England, the "old lady of Threadneedle Street").

AP has # of injured at only 300; CBC Radio now saying injured number "in the hundreds", although they still note that a number of other media outlets are still reporting "a thousand or more injured".

British police are *not* pleased at the media's rush, and are stressing that they have no *firm* numbers yet.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mohamad Khan:

God, please let this not be the work of Muslims. and if it is, please let there not be a backlash against ordinary Muslims.

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613-943-1055

outside the National Capital Region:

1-800-387-3124

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

quote:

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"I know that you personally do not fear to give your own life in exchange for taking others. That is why you are so dangerous. But I know you do fear that you will fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society. I can show you why you will fail. In the days that follow, look at our airports, look at our seaports and look at our railway stations. And even after your cowardly attack you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners, to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential. They choose to come to London as many have come before because they come to be free. They come to live the life they choose, they come to be themselves. They flee you, because you tell them how they should live."

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skdadl, i had the same thoughts about the complete craziness of attacking the transit system. not that bombing a place more symbolic of power would have been justified.

i was staying in the area (on Gower Street), visiting my friend at U of L, in early May. loved it there. i was trying to figure out where exactly the explosions happened:

does anyone know the times of the explosions?

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Mohamad Khan ]

Muslim leaders have condemned the attacks on London and said they fear their communities could now fall prey to vigilante attacks.

Muslim Association of Britain president Ahmed Sheikh said the attacks would make the Muslim community less safe.

He said women in headscarves might be in particular danger and warned all Muslims to be especially vigilant.

Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi noted one of London's biggest Muslim areas, around Aldgate East, had been targeted.

[ 07 July 2005: Message edited by: Mohamad Khan ]

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Did you read Red Ken's statement on the livejournal that kurichina linked to?

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I just saw him make this statement -- it was on Newsworld. It was riveting.

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God, please let this not be the work of Muslims.

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MK, I'm sorry I'm so worked up. I am really realizing how other people feel when places they know are violated this way -- people from anywhere.

I so detest all the windbags who are currently violating Gleneagles, another place I love (well, I actually have no love for the hotel or the golf course, but it is close to places I love), but I am staring at that map of the explosions and thinking: tourists, students, bookish people, immigrants, food-market workers ... why target them?

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Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi noted one of London's biggest Muslim areas, around Aldgate East, had been targeted.

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That is true.

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Originally posted by scooter:
I take issue with the thread title "Chaos as blasts rock London tube, bus".

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quote:

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Originally posted by audra trower williams:
I think posting updates is just fine. We'll close the thread when it gets too long, and start another.

Courage to everyone with family in London right now.

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Courage? Is Audra really Dan Rathers? Who knew!

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Geeshh...most people use humour to deal with tragic situations.

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Did you read Red Ken's statement on the livejournal that kurichina linked to?

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He appears to be very close to saying "you hate us for our freedoms".