Explosions in Central London timeline

July 7th, 2005

Breaking news on BBC TV - 10:25am UK time.

Timed updates below.

10:27: First explosion happened around 10am at Aldgate underground station. Entire underground system closed.

10:28: Explosion in Russel Square. Possible a bomb in a trash bin. Double-decker bus badly damaged.

10:29: Top deck of bus “completely destroyed”. Perhaps the bomb was on the bus?

10:30: Reports of other explosions on buses around London.

10:31: Total of three explosions on buses reported by Police.

10:32: This looks like a coordinated terrorist attack to me.

10:33: Explosions reported in 5 underground stations.

10:34: Stations include Aldgate and King’s Cross.

10:35: Government still “unsure” whether this is a terrorist attack. Kind of difficult to imagine whatinthehellsle it could be.

10:37: Surge in power in undeground reported around 8:50am. One bus explosion around 10am. Total confusion.

10:38: No casualty reports yet.

10:39: BBC news report. Underground explosions blamed on power surge. Surge caused by a bomb?

Surges took place at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King’s Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations.

10:44: Explosions officially confirmed at Liverpool Street and Edgeware road stations. Idiot newsdrone asked why this closed the entire network! Maybe because they’re worried there are otner bombs down there?

10:47: Unconfirmed reports of an unknown number of fatalities in the explosions.

10:48: Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, just made a short statement asking people in Central London to only make essential journeys. Spoke of “terrible injuries” and extended sympathy to victims and families.

10:50: Russel Square bus explosion now officially confirmed.

10:51: First pictures of Russel Square bus. Roof and side of top deck gone. Seats twisted. American eye witness says it was a covered tourist bus.

10:58: Another explosion at or near Liverpool Street station.

A thought: some of the anti-terrorism experts are up at Gleneagle for the G8 conference. Could this be a G8-related attack?

11:04: Reports of people trapped at Euston station.

11:07: A policeman at the Russel Square incident (one of the buses) just told a reporter that this is not the “major incident”, and that there has been a train crash at King’s Cross.

11:09: London Transport has announced the cancellation of all Zone 1 buses (that’s central London.

Further thoughts: all the reported explosions have happened in a relatively small area, in a short space of time. All the hallmarks of a coordinated terrorist attack.

11:15: No casualty or death toll reports officially. However, eyewitnesses report seeing bodies under blankets at several incidents.

11:21: Downing Street announces that Tony Blair, currently at the G8 conference, will make a press statement at noon.

11:22: Metropolitan Police Commissioner: “Six explosions”;”many casualties”.

11:30: A doctor has told a Reuters reporter that there are at least 90 casualties at Aldgate station.

From the BBC website:

Witness Christina Lawrence, who was on a train leaving Kings Cross, tells BBC News 24: “There was a loud bang in the tunnel and the train just stopped and all of a sudden it was filled with black, gassy smoke and we couldn’t breathe”

11:34: Police confirm 2 fatalities so far, “scores injured”.

11:35: “Arab sources” who monitor AlQaeda, have told the BBC that it is almost certainly their work.

11:40: Picture of the Russel Square bus, from the BBC.

Russel Square bus

The bus can just be made out in the centre background.

11:52: Hospitals reporting serious injuries, consistent with explosions.

11:54: BBC showing pictures of “wave after wave” of ambulances arriving at a London hospital. I’m not sure how I feel about this level of detail - one terribly burned man, receiving CPR as they moved him, was just shown.

11:58: BBC picture slideshow here.

12:01: Reports of the cellphone network in central London creaking under the strain of people calling friends and relatives.

12:02: Royal London Hospital reports receiving 95 casualties so far. Of which, 7 are critically ill, 10 seriously ill.

12:05: Blair speaking: “Terrorist attack”;”Casualties - dead and seriously injured”. He’s returning to London, but G8 conference will continue. Talking about how barbaric it is at a time when G8 are meeting to try and help world poverty, as well as environmental issues.

That’s it - he didn’t actually say anything.

He seemed visibly shocked.

12:10 Home Secretary due to address House of Commons shortly.

12:13: The National Express coach company have suspended services into and out of London.

12:17: London Ambulance Service: Rescue operation still going on. Crashed tube train stuck in tunnel.

12:35: Met. Police say 7 explosions total.

12:47: Still here. Still liveblogging. Nothing new to report.

13:19: BBC announces that an Arab website, used by AlQaeda, is admitting responsibility for attacks.

13:20: Charles Clarke: four seperate attacks confimed. London underground to remain closed for the rest of the day.

13:22: London Ambulance Service reports 150 casualties so far. That number is expected to rise.

13:25: G8 has condemned “barbaric” attacks.

13:32: Police confirm a “number of fatalities at Edgeware Road”. Two trains involved in the explosion.

Random thought: London was partyinh yesterday, having been awarded the 2012 Olympics. It will party again.

Explosions thought to be in the following locations:

Edgware Road
King’s Cross
Liverpool Street
Russell Square
Aldgate East
Moorgate

Here is an officially released picture the the bus involved in one of this morning’s attacks:

Bus

It looks to me like the explosion was at the rear of the upper deck of the bus.

13:46: University College Hospital reports 50 casualties received so far. No fatalities so far. Injuries typical of those caused by an explosion. Interpreters being called in because of the “many different” nationalities of the injured.

This is tourist season. I suspect many non-Brits have been caught up in this.

13:49: More on how all phone networks, not just mobiles, have been affected.

13:52: Here’s the full text released by an organisation purporting to be part of AlQaeda:

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace be upon him.

Nation of Islam and Arab nation: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahideen have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters.

We have repeatedly warned the British Government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahideen exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid.

We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused.

God says: “You who believe: If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly.”

Crusaders? Fucking idiots!

13:56: The Royal London Hospital reports receiving 183 casualties.

Things seem to be slowing down now. I’m going to get some lunch. I’ll be back if anything significant happens.

14:23: Bus hit was a number 30, routed from Hackney to Marble Arch.

13:24: Police confirm finding traces of explosives at two sites, which is no surprise. Further confirm the bomb was in the rear half of the top deck of the bus - I was right.

14:57: Police now saying a total of four explosions. Earlier reports of seven were probably caused by train explosions between stations being reported as incidents at each station.

15:28: Emergency services press conference:

Police:-

Emergency number for enquiries about relatives is 0870 1566344

8:50: Aldgate underground explosion. Seven confirmed dead.

8:56: Kings Cross/Russel Square explosion. 21 confirmed dead.

9:17: Edgeware road underground explosion involving three trains. Five confirmed dead.

9:47: Bus explosion. Unknown number of dead.

Transport:-

Underground closed until tomorrow.

Buses and mainline stations online later today.

Ambulance:-

45 serious or critical injuries.

Approx. 300 other injuries treated.

15:41: Press conference now taking questions:-

All casualties and dead cleared. None still trapped underground.

No idea yet whether suicide bombers were involved, or whether it was left packages.

The media are asking some dumb questions that I won’t repeat here.

15:49: Total confirmed fatalities now up to 33, “at least”.