Blasts hit London again (Multiple Updates) :: Terrorism

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July 21, 2005

Blasts hit London again (Multiple Updates)

[The No. 26 Bus: windows blown out, lots of smoke(image-Sky News)]

(Reuters) - Four small explosions hit London's bus and underground train network on Thursday, without causing major casualties, exactly two weeks after bombers killed more than 50 people in the capital.

A large part of the underground network was suspended, but police reassured the public that the emergency was not as serious as two weeks ago.

London's police chief Ian Blair told reporters: "We know that we've had four explosions or attempts at explosions. It is still pretty unclear as to what's happened.

"At the moment, the casualty numbers appear to be very low ... The bombs appear to be smaller than the last occasion."

The emergency coincided with a memorial service for the attacks of July 7.

In the immediate confusion, the nature of the attacks was unclear.

"The worst-case scenario with the non-explosions or minor explosions would be that these are devices that haven't triggered properly. Beyond that, it looks like it may be people messing around, copycat-type stuff," said analyst Shane Brighton of the Royal United Services Institute, a London think-tank.

Robert Ayers of the Chatham House institute said it appeared that the country now had to deal with a concerted militant campaign. [READ MORE]

UPDATE: FOX TV reporting that the U.S. Embassy in London is closed.

UPDATE 2 (HT Classical Values): Via London's Daily Mail: It may have been only the detonators that exploded, and there may also have been "a shooting":

(...) Earlier, Police sources have said that the explosions may have been detonators rather than bombs themselves.

(...) An initial examination carried out by police in protective clothing at Oval station has shown "no trace of chemical agents", a spokesman for Scotland Yard said.

(...) A British Transport Police spokesman said: "One person has received an injury at Warren Street.

(...) "We cannot confirm what the injury is, how it was received or who serious it is. We are still waiting for more information."

(...) There was also a report of a "shooting" at a station.

(...) Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair told Londoners to "stay where you are" and advised against commuters rushing to rail stations.

Foreign Dispatches links to "Witnesses claim would-be bomber ran away."

(...) Witnesses said they had seen what could have been a would-be bomber running away after dropping a rucksack on one of the trains.

(...) "We all got off on the platform and the guy just ran and started running up the escalator," one witness who gave her name as Andrea told the Witnesses claim would-be bomber ran away."

Also via Fox TV - lots of action at UC London Hospital, seems to be anti-terrorism action. I've spent a lot of time in research meetings at UC London and the hospital over the years, it's a large and busy medical center. Not exactly where you'd like to see a terrorist lose and afoot. But it does appear that a would be suicide bomber has mixed-in with the crowd (so to speak) and has gone "underground" in the UC Hospital area. Police are at the scene.

Developing with more updates to follow...

SKY NEWS is reporting that the explosive used is the same as that used in the 7/7 bombings.... Acetone Peroxide, a favorite of suicide bombers in the Middle East.

Also via SKY NEWS: THE NUMBER 26 BUS

[...]
The explosion on the Number 26 bus blew out the windows, but there were no reports of injuries.

Bus operator Stagecoach said: "The driver heard a bang he believed came from the upper desk of the bus.

"The windows were blown out. The bus is structurally intact and there are no reports of any injuries."

The No 26 bus was travelling from Waterloo to Hackney in the east of city.

The incident occured in the Shoreditch area.

Witnesses to the explosion said there had been a bang followed by the smell of smoke.
Question of the day: Copycat or the real thing? Same explosives as before, but they either screwed it up (which is hard to believe because of the explosive used not requiring a whole lot of brain power), it was meant to scare, or the bombmaker is an idiot. My vote is that the bombmaker is out of town or out to lunch, and these guys tried it on their own and just can't cut it as suicide bombers, or even suicide bomb makers. But what are we suppose to expect from a disfunctional community? AFter all, remember that they have problems that are the fault of anyone and everyone except themselves!

Other coverage - Jawa Report

Other News Stories:
Attacks designed to scare, says Blair
Suspect seen near London hospital - report
MAN ARRESTED AT GUNPOINT
PAKISTAN: SUSPECT 'NOT ARRESTED'
FOX: Explosions Hit Three Tube Stations, One Bus

Other coverage: Mark In Mexico, Michelle Malkin, The Counterterrorism Blog, Wizbang,Right in Texas, TacJammer, PoliBlogger, Conservative Outpost, Danny Carlton, Terrorism Unveiled, California Conservative