BBC – Multiple blasts paralyse London
Television screengrabs
This tragedy will only be compounded by Blair’s government using it to further strangle the public. If Charles Clarke dares to speak the words ‘ID Cards‘ today, I will be enraged.
Dear God, look at the human cost of this wrong-headed approach to terrorism – where we exploit it instead of fight it.
11:32am – BBC security correspondent reports that “this is almost certainly the work of Al Qaeda”…”According to sources who are well informed on underground Arab news/networks, there is a very strong possibility this attack was carried out by Al Qaida”
11:38am – Guardian – Many hurt as blasts rock London
11:45am – “We have been advised by our mobile operator, Orange that as a result of the current situation in central London, part of their mobile network capacity in this area is being reserved for the essential use of the emergency services.” All BBC webcams have been shut down “for operational reasons”
BBC news updates page here. Death and casualty reports still varying.
Rolling updates on Europhobia.
12:02pm – Blair: “It’s reasonably clear that there has been a series of terrorist attacks in London. It is my intention to leave the G8 to talk to police and emergency services personnel face to face… The G8 leaders will continue in my absence… Each of the countries around that table have some experience of terrorism… They all share our complete resolution for the defeat of terrorism. It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on the day people are meeting to try and help the problem of poverty in Africa… Just as it is reasonably clear that this is a terrorist attack… it is reasonably clear it has been timed to coincide with the opening of the G8… It is important, however, that the terrorists realise our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause the death and destruction of innocent people and impose their extremism on the world. It is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we have here in this country and in other civilised countries around the world.”
12:15pm – BBC report Al Qaeda claim responsibility.
12:18pm – Guardian reports another explosion in Leicester Square
12:34pm – House of Commons suspended still sitting. Charles Clarke to make a statement at 12:50pm
12:39pm – Guardian blog providing constant updates. A list of other blogs here. If you have IRC, try #london in irc.freenode.net
12:48 – Tim Wortsall and Robin Grant have checked in and are now busy updating.
1:26pm – London Blasts Claimed by Al Qaeda: Today’s blasts in London have been claimed by Al Qaeda’s European chapter, Qaeda’t al-Jihad in Europe. A statement has been posted on a site often used by Qaeda agents, www.qal3ati.com. The statement follows (translated by one of my staff here in Baghdad)
Wikipedia entry. (May require salt.)
2:26 – I’m sorry, but it had to be said. A similar view is shared here.
2:34pm – Bush speaks of hope and compassion being a clear contrast to hate, death and destruction. But you already know what I’m going to say about that…. (Oh, go on then… have some Rush and Gibson. And a little of what is good for you. Now with added compassion. More? You got it.)
2:53pm – Slideshow of images and screengrabs. Via Europhobia, which is well worth keeping an eye on.
Anyone concerned about relatives or friends can contact the emergency telephone number on: 0870 156 6344 (call obvious numbers first; work, home, friends… but if you can’t get through on someone’s mobile, it’s most likely a network issue)
Questions that are being asked by parents and others caring for children who are affected by the explosions in London.
5:29pm – Eyewitness photos sent to the BBC and (tinfoil hat required) questions asked regarding warnings.
A Letter To The Terrorists, From London
