London Rocked by Explosions

[Guest guest]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/070705Z.shtml

 

London Rocked by Explosions

CNN

 

Thursday 07 July 2005

 

Blair says he suspects terrorists are responsible.

 

London, England - Four explosions in London's transport system

have killed a number of people and wounded dozens more in what UK

Prime Minister Tony Blair said was an apparent terrorist attack.

 

More fatalities were sure to follow -- emergency services

personnel told CNN that a rescue operation at Kings Cross station had

successfully evacuated all survivors, leaving dead below ground " in

the double digits. "

 

Three of the blasts took place in the city's subway system and one

more hit a double-decker bus, all at the height of rush hour.

 

International SOS, an international medical emergency service,

reported that the police had found explosive traces in at least one of

four confirmed blast locations.

 

Hospital officials have reported at least 160 wounded. London

transit officials shut down the entire Underground and stopped buses

in the central city district.

 

" We are dealing with large numbers of casualties, " he said, " and

we believe a number of fatalities. "

 

Flanked by the somber leaders of the world's eight largest

industrial nations at the G8 summit in Scotland, Blair said: " We

condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. We send our profound

condolences to the victims and their families.

 

" All of our countries have suffered from the impact of terrorism.

Those responsible have no respect for human life. We are united in our

resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on

one nation, but all nations and on civilized people everywhere. "

 

Blair told reporters he would leave the summit for a " face to

face " report in London and then return later in the evening.

 

A White House spokesman said U.S. President George W. Bush was

aware of the explosions and had been in briefings with Blair all morning.

 

Despite calls from officials to stay home, however, Londoners were

on the streets except in areas where they were barred by police.

 

Police cordoned off areas around six stations in and around the

city's center and financial area and brought in sniffer dogs to check

the areas.

 

Telephone traffic -- particularly by cell phone -- was nearly

impossible. London's largest cellular provider, Vodafone, said it had

devoted much of its network to emergency services, causing the

problems with rs.

 

London's police chief said the explosions, which began at about

8:50 a.m. (3:50 a.m. ET), certainly appeared coordinated.

 

One man, with blood streaming down the left side of his face from

a wound on his temple, said he didn't " want to live through it again. "

 

" I was in the front carriage and people were severely injured

there, " he said, dispassionately, adding that his train had been in

the tunnel between Kings Cross and Russell Square. " I heard, but I

don't know, that people were hurt worse further back. " Some people

were very calm, others very panicky. "

 

" There was a very loud bang, the lights went out, the carriage

filled with smoke, " he said. " We were all thrown forward. "

 

Another man, clearly shaken by his experience, described being on

a smoke-filled carriage on the same train, he and his fellow

passengers afraid to try to leave the train.

 

" We were all trapped like sardines waiting to die, " said Angelo

Power. " I honestly thought I was going to die, as did everyone else. "

 

A police spokesman urged Londoners to " stay where you are. "

 

" There's no way to travel around London at the moment, " he said.

 

" There is a London emergency plan, " he said. " It has been put into

effect. It is being coordinated by the Metropolitan Police, and that's

about all I can say at the moment. "

 

Scotland Yard sent out a notice saying that " public transport in

London will be affected in the next few days. "

 

Claire Burroughs, spokeswoman for St Mary's Hospital in central

London, told CNN the hospital was on " major incident alert. " Four

patients were critically injured, eight were seriously injured and 14

others were being treated for minor injuries, she said.

 

" The types of injuries we are seeing include limb damage, burns,

cuts, breaks, head injuries and chest problems due to smoke

inhalation, " Burroughs said.

 

London Hospital said it received 95 patients, most with minor

injuries. Ten, however were listed in serious condition and seven in

critical condition as well as " numerous with significant orthopedic

injuries requiring immediate surgery. "

 

CNN cameraman Oran O'Reilly said he has seen seven of the city's

famed double-decker buses as well as police cars and ambulances

arriving with casualties.

 

Another hospital told CNN it had taken in 40 wounded.

 

British Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the explosions took

place between Russell Square and Kings Cross Underground; near the

Moorgate, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations Underground; and the

Edgware Road station.

 

The fourth explosion on a bus just outside Tavistock Hotel.

 

London Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and London's

fire brigade are investigating, according to Scotland Yard.

 

O'Reilly, who was at Aldgate station, saw passengers coming out of

it with signs of smoke inhalation -- black smudges around their mouths

and noses.

 

" They're pushing people away from the tube (train) station, "

O'Reilly said. " Police are telling us to evacuate the street. "

 

Also at Aldgate, CNN producer Roger Clark said he had seen people

with blood running down their faces, with many others looking stunned.

 

An eyewitness who was on a train told Clark the car in front of

him exploded and then the the train tunnel filed with smoke.

 

Separately, the London Fire Service said it was responding to a

report of an explosion on a bus at Russell Square. Chamberlin heard a

loud explosion in central London. Witnesses told him they saw a

heavily damaged double-decker bus.

 

-------