A series of explosions rocked London’s public transportation system at rush hour on Thursday morning killing at least 50 people. Three hundred people were also wounded in Thursday’s bomb attacks in London, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy quoted British Home Secretary Charles Clarke as telling him. „I’ve spoken to the British interior minister twice today, the last time half an hour ago. He told me that the provisional toll was 50 dead, 300 wounded, including 50 very seriously,” Sarkozy said on France 2 television. Metropolitan Police told journalists Thursday afternoon there were four separate attacks that took place between 8:51 A.M. and 9:47 A.M. GMT. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has said he was unaware of any Israeli casualties though a number of Israelis have not yet made contact with family members. The German weekly newspaper Der Spiegel reported that an organization calling itself Al-Qaida Europe claimed responsibility for the attacks. There have also been reports of Al-Qaida warning Denmark and Italy of the same fate as London if they do not cease their activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. The editor of Jane’s Intelligence Digest said Al-Qaida was very likely behind the attacks. „We would put Al-Qaida at the top of the list of any suspects,” Alex Standish said. „They have the motives, the means and the opportunity. „Here you have a massive headline event [the G8 meeting now taking place in Scotland] which involves the three world leaders that Al-Qaida detests – Bush, Blair and Putin.” According to police, the first explosion took place at 8:51 A.M. GMT at the Aldgate East underground station, in which there were seven confirmed fatalities. The second blast occurred at 8:56 A.M. at the King’s Cross underground station. There were 21 confirmed fatalities in this explosion. BPI-info
The third explosion took place at 9:17 A.M. at Edgewar Road station, and three trains are believed to have been involved in the incident. There were five confirmed fatalities in this blast. At 9:47 A.M. a fourth explosion took place near Taverstock Place on board a double-decker bus. The number of fatalities in this last incident was still unconfirmed. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it is „reasonably clear” the series of attacks was orchestrated by terrorists. Speaking from the G8 summit in Gleneagles in Scotland Blair said he intended to make his way to London immediately. The G8 proceedings were postponed until Friday. Blair added that the determination of the British people to defend their values and way of life is greater than that of terrorist determination to wreak destruction and death. ‘The double-decker bus was in the air’ The entire London underground system was shut down following explosions in three tube stations, which occurred one day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics and as leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations met in Scotland. People were seen streaming out of one underground station covered with blood and soot. Passengers were evacuated from stations across the capital, many in shock and with their clothes ripped to shreds, witnesses said. Major thoroughfares were blocked off by police and ambulance services. A witness said the top of one double-decker bus in the center of London was reportedly destroyed by a blast. „I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double-decker bus was in the air,” Belinda Seabrook told Press Association, the British news agency. She said the bus was packed with people. „It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air,” she said. „There were people streaming out of Algate station covered in blood,” said Kate Heywood, 27, on her way to work. „There are shards of glass there, it is chaos,” she added. Police sealed off large areas around other underground and mainline rail stations. Firemen donned chemical protection suits before rushing into stations. BPI-info
