TriNetre - Archive for July 07, 2005
(no longer updated)
CASUALITY BUREAU NUMBER: 08701566344, HOTLINE NUMBERS: 020 7766 6020 (UK) +44 20 7766 6020 (INT’L)
Update 17:06
No more immediate updates for now. Please visit other websites for more information - CNN, BBC, Wikipedia, Wikinews, Guardian Blog, Londonist, London Metblog.
Update 17:05 CETPress Conference by Police and Emergency officials - Casualty bureau open, phone number is 08701566344. 7 fatalities in first explosion, 21 in second explosion, 5 fatalities in third and unconfirmed number of fatalities in the fourth (bus) thus totaling 33+. At least 45 serious and 300 minor injuries. No claims of responsibilities so far. Bus services hopefully up later in afternoon. Underground will be closed rest of the day. People asked to think carefully about their journey back. Don't call 999 unless one wants to report life threatening issues.
No indications that the explosive devices were unconventional. No chemical or biological agents involved. CCTV cameras will be looked into for clues on suspicious movements. No information on arrests in connection with these incidents. No more people (alive I assume) trapped underground. Not prepared to tell how many anti-terrorist personnels are involved in the investigations. No intelligence that there is any threat from any other devices, but still being very vigilant. Trains will be searched before being brought back into service. Never any power surge. For now, no warning given to the police at all. No panic among the commuters. No information about controlled explosions. Public asked to remain vigilant. Denies reports of sniper shooting down a suspect.
Treating this as terrorist incident. Looking at claims by "Al Qaeda Europe"
All London hospitals are closed to non-emergency cases. Emergency service calls are being given priority on mobile phone networks.
Update 16:01 CETScotland Yard asking people not to come into London or cross it.
Update 15:43 CETPolice Chief concerned that this was a coordinated attack.
Update 15:38 CETPolice press conference in half an hour, expected to give fatality figures. Rumours that upto 45 fatalities, seven of which is on the bus (ITN reporter speaking on CNN).
Update 15:23 CETITN News saying at least 12 dead. Bomb experts inside the Edgware station tunnel to perform a "controlled explosion" indicating that they have found some kind of unexploded device. Bus that was hit was No. 30 bus travelling from Hackney to Marble Arch.
Update 15:15 CETPM Blair's statement in full. The explosion on the bus was at Tavistock Square. At least 95 casualties at Royal London Hospital, some requiring immediate operations.
Update 14:49 CETSomeone being interviewed at CNN says that attack "indicates a level of pre-planning". King's Cross being investigated as crime scene too. Bodies (at least 13 ) are not being removed from the trains any more, says London fire brigade. Pope calling the attacks barbaric act against humanity. London Mayor says attacks "aimed at all (..) indiscriminate attempts to slaughter" calls it a "mass murder". Tells the attackers "In the days that follows, look at our airports, stations.. people from around the world will arrive in London (..) they come to be free.. they flee you.. (..) Whatever you do, however you do, you will fail.
Update 14:37 CETA group calling itself "Secret Group of Al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe" has claimed responsibility for the explosion on an previously unknown Islamic website.
Update 14:34 CETUS President Bush - "Appreciate PM Blair's steadfast determination." Asked his officials to be "extra vigilant". "Such evil in the heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks. (..) We will not yield to terrorists. (..) We will spread the ideology of hope and faith."
Update 14:25 CETAll of the dead and injured at Edgware tube station have been cleared from the underground and police is treating the place as crime scene. PM Blair has left for London in a military helicopter.
Update 14:09 CETMetropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair said to SKy News "We are aware that one of the sites does contain indications of explosives". G8 joint statement delivered by PM Blair "condemn utterly these barbaric attacks... Those responsible have no respect for human life. (..) Not an attack on one nation, but on all nations and on civilised people everywhere...(..) We will continue our deliberations (..) We shall prevail and they shall not", calling it a barbaric act.
Update 13:55 CETHome Secretary Charles Clarke confirms 4 explosions, one in a bus and three in underground tube stations. Underground closed for today. Airport operating normally. People advised not to travel to central London. PM will be back in London to chair a meeting later today. G8 meeting will not be disrupted by the events.
Update 13:53 CETScotland Yard saying only 4 blasts and not 6 as reported earlier. Bus and underground public transport system has been shut down. First explosion happened at 08:50 in the morning at Old gate Aldgate tube station. Police saying it is too early to say if suicide bombers were involved.
Metropolitan Police has asked commuters to stay where they are and not move around. The text of Home Secretary statement on London explosions can be found here.
All survivor have been evacuated at King's Cross station tunnel. Officials say there are double digit fatalities there alone! It is no longer rescue, but recovery there.
The underground "tube" network has been shut down. A spokesman has confirmed that trains into London has been stopped. Update on causalities - 95 causalities, 7 critical conditions. Cell phone network is jammed, trouble getting through land lines too.
PM Blair said at a press conference that attack is "particularly barbaric" that such attack happened when people are meeting to discuss poverty and environmental issues. He also said that it is "reasonably clear that is it designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8".
British PM Tony Blair has said that it is "reasonably clear" that the explosions that happened at 08:50 was the terrorist attacks. There has been two confirmed deaths and 90 causalities. There has been 6 reported explosions, one of them on a bus. PM Blair will come back to London to get updated information and the return back to the G8 summit.
