Fatal terrorist attacks close London Underground and destroy bus

By WILL SPRINGER (at The Scotsman)

A SERIES of terrorist bombings closed the London Underground and destroyed at least one bus, sending the city into panic this morning in what police believe was a co-ordinated attack.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said people had died and been seriously injured in a series of terrorist attacks.

The BBC reports that a group called the Organisation of Al Qaeda and Jihad in Europe had claimed responsibility for the bombings. The report could not be verified.

There is also an unconfirmed report that Scotland Yard was aware of the possible attacks. A senior Israeli official reportedly said that Scotland Yard told Israel minutes before the explosions it had received warnings of possible terror attacks.

The entire Tube system, used by three million people a day, was suspended while bus services in the centre of London also ceased.

Two people were confirmed dead, however that figure is expected to rise. One train passenger said he saw several bodies in the wreckage. All London hospitals were put on major incident alert. At midday, people were still trapped in the Underground.

Mr Blair said: "There have been a series of terrorist attacks. There are obviously casualties. Our thoughts and prayers with the victims and their families."

He expressed his "complete resolution" to defeat the terrorism responsible for this "barbaric" outrage.

"Our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction," the Prime Minister said.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said there had been at least six explosions, but said the picture was still "very confused" and expressed concern that this was "a co-ordinated attack." Sir Ian said there was evidence of explosives at least one of the explosion sites.

Paul Wilkinson, a terrorism expert from St Andrews University, said: "It is quite clear that a major terrorist attack has been carried out on London.

"The attack has all the trademarks of the Al Qaida network," he said.

The blasts hit Tube stations in Edgware Road, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East and Moorgate, Scotland Yard said. At least one bus was destroyed at Tavistock Place, near Russell Square.

Witness Belinda Seabrook said she saw an explosion rip though the No. 59 route bus as it approached Russell Square. "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," she said.

A policeman at the scene said: "We believe there have been a number of fatalities and a number of people who are seriously injured."

British Transport Police (BTP) had said the Underground blasts - which occured at 8:49am - were caused by a power surge, however that report could be in question following the later explosion on a bus.

"There have been six sites of explosions including one on a bus," said Sir Ian, the police commissioner. "The situation has been very confused but is now coming under control. A very well rehearsed and sophisticated plan for London is swinging into action with all of the city forces and the ambulance serve are working in coordination."

The timing of the incidents came on the opening day of the Group of Eight summit in Scotland. Edinburgh and Perthshire, near the summit venue, have experienced a series of protests in recent days.

A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders police, which includes Edinburgh, said: "It is too early to say whether or not this is G8 related, and we will continue to carry out assessments over the next couple of hours.

"Edinburgh is already in a heightened state of security, but we will continue to monitor the situation," the spokesperson said.

The G8 gathering had prompted fears of a terrorist spectacular. The scale of the explosions and the disruption it has caused London's transport network is bound to provoke comparisons with the al Qaida attacks on the Madrid railway network.

The Prime Minister will leave the summit in Gleneagles for several hours for face-to-face meetings in London about the attacks. The meetings in Perthshire will continue without him.

The Ministry of Defence said there was currently "no military involvement" in the response to today's blasts. "We standby ready to assist, but this is a civil police led operation at present," said a spokesman.

The London Stock Exchange has suffered from the news. The FTSE 100 index plunged 160.4 points to 5069.2 in morning trading. Sterling was also sharply lower, with the pound weakening by almost a cent to 1.741 against the US dollar.

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Much more coming in updates later this morning.