Five more unexploded devices found in Tube; London casualties at 20

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Thu, 07 Jul 2005 05:27:28 -0700

[Zepps_News] Five more unexploded devices found in Tube;

London casualties at 20

 

 

 

 

<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087 & sid=asoxIzNBZda0 & refer=top_worl\

d_news>

 

 

Stocks Worldwide, U.K. Pound Slump After London Terror Attacks; Bonds Gain

 

Oil Drops From a Record as Blasts in London Stoke Concern Demand Will Slow

 

Insurance Stocks Fall After London Blasts; Allianz, Aviva, Munich Re Drop

 

London Shuts Subway After Blasts, Evacuates Stations (Update5)

 

July 7 (Bloomberg) -- London closed its public transport system and

evacuated subway stations after six explosions in the financial district

and center of the capital caused casualties and at least eight deaths.

 

Five explosive devices were found on the subway network, an unidentified

firefighter said. Blasts occurred at financial district Underground

stations including Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Aldgate East. Police

said explosions were also reported at Kings Cross and Edgware Road

stations in central London. A bus exploded near Russell Square, killed

at least eight, a firefighter said. Scotland Yard wouldn't comment on

the possible causes.

 

``Health services are in support to deal with the terrible injuries that

there have been,'' Home Secretary Charles Clarke told reporters in

London. ``I want to express sympathy on behalf of the whole government

to the families and friends of those who have been injured,'' Clarke said.

 

Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Edgware Road and King's Cross are among

stations evacuated. Prime Minister Tony Blair, in Gleneagles, Scotland,

for the Group of Eight summit that starts today, is being informed of

the situation, a spokesman at his office said. Bus services across

London were suspended. UBS AG evacuated one of its buildings near

Liverpool Street. About 320,000 people commute to the financial area to

work each day.

 

``I heard a big bang,'' said Loyita Worley, 49, who was traveling

between Aldgate and Liverpool Street and had soot around her nose and

mouth. ``The lights went out on the train and ash began to fall. I smelt

a burning smell. Some people were panicking and I heard people shouting

and crying for help.''

 

Stocks, Pound Slide

 

European stocks and U.S. stock-index futures fell after the blasts. The

U.K. pound, the dollar and bond yields also slid.

 

The G-8 summit began in Gleneagles today and is scheduled to last until

tomorrow. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy Japan,

Russia and the U.S. are attending the summit to discuss the economy, aid

to Africa and climate change. Today's explosions follow celebrations in

London yesterday after the city won its bid to host the 2012 Olympic

Games.

 

There are about 1,000 London Metropolitan Police officers on duty at the

G-8 summit, said Ruth Copperthwaite, a spokeswoman for Scotland's

Tayside Police. There are no plans to send them back early at the

moment, she said.

 

London residents should ``stay exactly where you are until the situation

clears,'' said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair in a

statement. ``The most serious casualties are already in treatment.''

 

A spokesman said London Fire Brigade was called to an explosion at

Liverpool Street and blasts at ``a number'' of locations. A police

spokesman said a blast occurred just before 9 a.m. local time at Aldgate

station.

 

`Panicking'

 

London Ambulance Service initially sent four vehicles to Liverpool

Street, a spokesman said. The service then sent ambulances to other

locations in central London. ``There was panicking inside,'' said

Samantha Fletcher, who was stuck in a train for about an hour between

Cannon Street and Tower Hill stations. Offices around Aldgate are being

shut.

 

The British Broadcasting Corp. said a power surge may have affected

underground trains.

 

To contact the reporter on this story:

Tom Kohn in London tkohn

 

Last Updated: July 7, 2005 06:52 EDT

 

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