Our world has gone to shit. Not long ago we had a Canadian boy, a baby, shot in the head and killed. Not long before that, children killed in a Russian hostage situation. An attack on Spain’s train system, the attacks on September 11th, 2001, and now this.
Thirty-seven people have been confirmed dead as of now. Over seven-hundred people are reported injured, some seriously. Their injuries vary from smoke inhalation, burns, to severed limbs. It was first believed to have been some sort of power surge in the train system but police later discovered traces of explosive materials and that a packed double-decker bus had been destroyed.
* Between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street subway stations. (7 dead)
* Between Russell Square and King’s Cross subway stations. (21 dead)
* At Edgware Road subway station. (5 dead)
* On a bus at Woburn Place near Tavistock Square. (2 dead)
The slaughter of innocents will not achieve anything. It only lessens whatever credibility you’ve had before. If you haven’t found out yet, an al-Qaeda-linked group has claimed responsibility for this. It still hasn’t been verified but their is a great chance of it being them again.
A CBC timeline:
8:49 a.m. British transport police receive report on incident on Metropolitan Line between Liverpool Street and Aldgate.
9:15 a.m. Media reports say explosion reported and emergency services headed to Liverpool Street Station.
9:24 a.m. Transport police say cause of emergency could be a collision of two trains, a power cut, or an exploded power cable. Police report some minor injuries.
9:33 a.m. London Underground shut down. Passengers told a power fault across network is to blame.
9:33 a.m. Another incident at Edgware Road Station reported.
9:40 a.m. Transport police report power surge incidents at five Underground stations: Aldgate, Edgware Road, King’s Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.
10:02 a.m. Scotland Yard says it is responding to a major incident.
10:14 a.m. Reports of a bus torn apart by an explosion in central London.
10:21 a.m. Scotland Yard says there have been multiple explosions in London.
10:23 a.m. Transport police confirm explosion on a bus at Tavistock Place.
10:25 a.m. BBC says British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in Scotland for G-8 summit, is unsure if explosions are terrorist attack.
10:25 a.m. Two buses reported damaged in explosion. Eyewitnesses say a double-decker bus was blown into the air.
10:25 a.m. Transport union reports three explosions on buses.
10:39 a.m. All hospitals in London put on major incident alert.
10:49 a.m. Police report serious casualties, but don’t confirm any deaths.
10:51 a.m. Police say two trains stuck in tunnels at Edgware Road. Passenger says he saw bodies in the wreckage.
10:55 a.m. Reuters reports at least 90 casualties at Aldgate Station.
11:18 a.m. BBC speaks with London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair. He says he knows of “about six explosions” on a bus and at Underground stations, calls the situation confusing and advises Londoners to stay put.
11:26 a.m. European Parliament President Josep Burrell blames terrorism for co-ordinated attacks and “confirmed deaths.”
11:30 a.m. Signs on highways into London issue warning: “Avoid London. Area Closed. Turn on Radio.”
12:05 p.m. Blair issues statement regarding “series of terrorist attacks in London.” Blair says he will go to London and that the G-8 summit will continue in his absence.
12:39 p.m. Reuters reports that an unknown group calling itself the Secret Group of al-Qaeda’s Jihad in Europe issues statement on website claiming responsibility for attack.
12:57 p.m. Home Secretary Charles Clarke confirms four explosions, three in subways, one on a bus.
1:00 p.m. G-8 leaders meeting in Scotland condemn attacks and say they will remain united in fight against terrorism.
1:30 p.m. Hospital officials report 190 people injured in explosions.
1:32 p.m. U.S. President George W. Bush, at G-8 summit, says he has told security officials back home to be extra vigilant.
1:42 p.m. London police official says traces of explosives found at two blast sites.
2:12 p.m. A U.S. law enforcement official says at least 40 people were killed.
3:27 p.m. London police confirm 33 fatalities from three explosions in the underground.
3:29 p.m. London Ambulance Service officials say 45 people are seriously injured.
The bus and train systems have been shut down today for further investigation and security reasons. Over three million people take the Underground system everyday. Thankfully only a small percentage of them were injured today. Let’s hope our brothers and sisters in the UK can find out those responsible for this and make sure that it never happens again. Like Matt said earlier today, people shouldn’t have to be afraid to take the bus or the train. What kind of garbage is this anyway? Leave the people alone, they have nothing to do with the “capitalist exploitation”.
Canada seems to have also been threatened but that’s not a certainty. We should expect to see tighter security on our public transit systems. The terrorists are getting exactly what they want now. The whole world’s afraid again.
If you have any Canadian relatives in London you can call: 1-800-606-5499.
This is the number for our Foreign Affairs unit in London. Be sure to include their name, date of birth, and passport number (if you have it) when you call.
Canada House, Consular Services, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BJ, England, U.K.
Tel.: 44 (20) 7258-6600
Fax: 44 (20) 7258-6533
E-Mail: LDN@international.gc.ca
Internet: www.london.gc.ca
This attack hopefully has not over shadowed the tremendous achievement of hosting the 2012 summer olympics and the G-8 protests.
Be careful in the UK, Nuisance..
