Terrorism: Al Quaeda London UK: London populace under assault as Al Quaeda wing claims responsiblity
The Guardian, the hysterical anti-Blair Bushing-hating London newspaper, but neverthrless an ofttimes informative source of news and opinion, dripping often enuff with satirical wit gone mad: The Guardian has had to sober up.
It's Newsblog at G8 (click the headline above), subtitled Live from Edinburgh like a TV concert show, and set-up to scoff at the Summit leaders, while celebrating the Geldofians among the pro-Africos (like me, with some serious reservations) and the Stone-throwers among the Anti-Globos, has found itelf another job. A minute-by-minute update on the horrible terrorist attack in the UK's capital city and official main residence of Her Majesty, the faded Empire's Queen Elizabeth II. Now is also her hour, toward the end of her reign, to make a speech like that of her own mother to the people of London under the aerial bomb attack on the city by the Nazis, calling her subjects to hold firm, the bastards shall not win.
Like the great newspaper despite its malice, Tony Blair too has been diverted. How can he pressure concessions from Bush on acceding at least somewhat to the Kyoto Accords? - when his mind and time has to be spent directly on the direct threat, really London's 9/11, from the Mo Atta-comparable attacks that Orpah has recently been magnifying in pity and explain-everything-away. I doubt even The Guardian will be up to that today or for some weeks. In the meantime, I think I should give you the clickable of my headline for this blog entry today. Use the Live from Edinburgh blog to keep abreast of London's nightmare and work of tikkun (Repair, in the Hebrew, I understand, with both the connotations of reconstruction and spiritual healing). Mercifully, the only death count, at least that I've seen, mentions just two deaths, terrible deaths to be sure. But when one considers the situation, it's still painful but a relief that there weren't more. Have you got children or friends visiting in London? Have you heard from them since the transport explosions? Dou you live in London? If so, your comments would be especially appreciated.
God have mercy on the city! God please bring the terrorists to justice, and hold all their kind at bay. But strengthen us, Lord, and the people of London all, to hitch up their courage to withstand what will probably come now upon them in waves. Have pity on the good Muslim people of London and all Britain, we pray. Protect them from the ferocity and fear of their neighbours, who may answer with a milder transgression of their own. Bring us to peace, bring us to neighborliness, and strike down the enemy who spreads terror. Strengthen the democratic institutions and processes in Iraq and Afghanistan, we ask. In Jesus name, Amen.
Bomb blasts plunge London into chaos
By Neil McIntosh / UK news 06:10pm
A series of co-ordinated bomb blasts have hit central London today, at the height of the morning rush hour. The most recent confirmed toll is 37 people killed, although this number is likely to rise. 700 people have been injured.
The police casualty number is 0870 1566344, although police request that you try calling any friends or family members you're concerned about first. The mobile networks, we're seeing, are coming back up for normal use, so you might now be able to get through.
Tell us your experiences by emailing us at newsblog.london@gmail.com. Read other's accounts here.
Updates to this blog post have now finished, although the rest of Newsblog remains active. You'll find the latest news coverage on our front page.
1810 It has been a terrible day here in London, and our thoughts are with the victims, their family and friends. Thanks for all your messages of support and solidarity, some of which we've put up here.
After more than seven hours of coverage here, the grim truth of the situation is becoming clear, and it's time for us to wrap up this rolling news post and think about walking home with everyone else. We'll have an early start tomorrow, as the impact of today's terrible events sinks in.
Of course, overnight our news team will continue to bring you complete coverage of events, and reaction - keep an eye on our front page for the latest. And do keep sending us your experiences at newsblog.london@gmail.com
1642 Our media site has a roundup of what some other bloggers have been saying about today's terrible events.
1630 Londoners are now streaming home on foot - we can see them outside the Guardian offices here in Farringdon road. The scenes are somewhat reminiscent of those after 9/11, when New Yorkers flowed out of Manhattan across the Brooklyn bridge. Mainline stations are now open, but the tube remains closed until this evening at least.
1545 In the press conference, we learn a little more about the initial confusion that gripped the city earlier today. Tube boss Tim O'Toole says the sudden succession of blasts caused the earlier "power surge" rumours - the tube control room thought that was the only thing that could cause such a co-ordinated set of failures across the network. In fact, the tube's power supply is intact - they could run a full service now, although that's not likely to happen for some time yet. He also says he's enormously proud of his staff, who "did a difficult job and did it well".
1538 Still at the press conference. London Underground's Tim O'Toole confirms "the system is now clear", which means everyone's out. The train under King's Cross took the longest time to clear - as Londoners know, it's the deepest and most claustrophobic of the lines affected today.
1531 The press conference finally opens. First, the Police casualty bureau now open: 0870 1566344. Then we get a timeline of events this morning:
0851: First incident between Moorgate and Liverpool St. An explosion hits the train 100 yards from Liverpool St, in the tunnel. There are seven fatalities.
0856: The second blast happens on a tube train between King’s Cross and Russell Square. 21 are confirmed dead.
0917: A third blast, this one at Edgware Road. It was powerful enough to blow a hole into another train, with three trains in all involved. Five dead.
0947: The fourth blast, this time on a bus in Tavistock Place. There are no numbers on fatalities from this attack.
There was no warning, and no claims of responsibility yet.
DAC Brian Paddick: "This was clearly a callous attack on purely innocent members of public clearly designed to kill and injure members of the public."
1513 Respect MP George Galloway says: "We argued, as did the security services in this country, that the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq would increase the threat of terrorist attack in Britain. Tragically Londoners have now paid the price of the Government ignoring such warnings."
1503 That news conference has been delayed. But we are hearing that Victoria, Euston and Paddington stations have re-opened this afternoon. St Pancras and Liverpool Street could also reopen soon. The only station likely to remain shut before tonight's rush-hour is the non-suburban (ie - Intercity) bit of King's Cross. The tube, of course, remains completely closed.
1500 We're expecting a news conference on today's events to begin shortly. We'll have live coverage here.
1424 Suddenly, the terrible scale of today's attack becomes clear. Ambulance sources, reported on Sky, suggest 23 people have been killed at King's Cross, nine at Edgware road, seven at Aldgate, two at Russell Square. There are hundreds - possibly more than a thousand - injured. We're trying to verify the numbers.
1420 London Transport confirms the bus hit by one of today's bombs was a number 30, travelling from Hackney to Marble Arch.
1415 At least three double decker buses have been bringing injured people to the Royal London hospital, which now says it has treated 208 people. The air ambulance - a helicopter - has been carrying those more seriously injured.
1400 We're now getting a slighly better picture of the numbers of injured. There are reports of 183 injured at the Royal London Hospital. 123 have been released. Of those remaining, eight were said to be "critical", and several others were also seriously injured. As far as we know, a rescue operation is continuing King's Cross, where people are thought to be trapped, although we are not hearing much from there at the moment.
1323 The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, says: "London has been the target of a cowardly terrorist attack. Londoners have responded calmly and courageously.
"I commend the professionalism, courage of the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London staff, the Ambulance, Fire and other emergency services.
"Innocent people going from all of London's communities have been targeted by this indiscriminate attack. I urge Londoners from all of this city's diverse communities and faiths to support one another and stand together against terrorism."
1315 Tony Blair, flanked by George W Bush and Jacques Chirac, again condemns the attacks. [Photograph on Flickr]. Blair says: "We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values. Nor will we let it stop the work of this summit. We will continue our deliberations in the interests of a better world. Here at this summit, the world's leaders are striving to combat world poverty and save and improve human life. The perpetrators of today's attacks are intent on destroying life. The terrorists will not succeed... We shall prevail and they shall not."
1300 A packed House of Commons is hearing a statement from Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary. He expresses sympathy to friends and family of those who had died, and says four explosions are confirmed. One on a tube train between Aldgate and Liverpool Street, one on a bus, one in the tube at King’s Cross, another at Edgware Road.
The underground will remain closed for today at least. There are no buses operating in central London, with decision to reopen to be made later today. People are strongly advised not to travel into central London, with many mainline train companies cancelling services or terminating before the capital.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, responds. He says thoughts and prayers on his side of the house are with injured, family and friends. He praises the emergency services.
He brands the bombings acts of "unspeakable depravity and wickedness.
"The whole house condemns them utterly. This is not just an attack on our capital, but also an attack on our way of life as a whole," he says.
1248 A Wikipedia entry on today's blasts has been started.
1240 A moblogged picture from one of the underground lines today.
Read more...
I hope readers won't mind my retaining my first impression of only 2 deaths, then to find in the report quoted the growing number in the correct timeframes. My prayer ....
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Wikipedia entry updated as events develop in real time:
7 July 2005 London bombings
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