Hi friends, just thought I'll let you know that I had a narrow escape today... Twice.
First I was late this morning so was just one train behind the one (Picadilly line) in which the explosion happened.
Then while trying to get a bus to office I was again about 300 mtrs behind the one that had the explosion.
Helped some people... got back home safely about 1:00PM and prayed that I was just lucky.
Since no one in my family, colleagues or friends could reach my both cell phones they feared for me for a long time. Networks were very congested and also it is believed that some phone companys blocked the networks signals around central London so as to avoid anyone using a cell phone to remote detonate a device.
Well... the chaos is still in my thoughts and I can't get over the sights of frantic people running everywhere.
My condolences to the family and friends of all the people who died today.
all i can say is that you were meant to be late today. ((hug)) I am so glad you are safe
The news is reporting 53 dead and numerous casualities. I heard the news at work and felt physically sick. My son, (legalbeagle ) lives so close and uses Aldgate station and thank god he and his fiancee are OK and my daughter is also working inthe City and also OK. But it is so good to hear that the Underground will be open tomorrow. WE WILL NOT BOW TO TERRORISM. We have been through this before and no doubt it will happen again. It is just so ironic that London was ecstatic last night winning the Olympic bid and this should happen today. So glad everyone on this site has reported in OK. And many thanks for the good wishes of our friends across the world. Don't worry about us - we just get more defiant when the odds are against us. I also hope that there will be no repercussions against the many muslims living in London who hate this as much as we all do.
a very sad day for humanity.
Just wanted to let you guys with direct ties to victims know that there's a whole bunch of praying going on here in Iowa on for you, your loved ones, the city, and your country as a whole. These upcoming days will certianly be grim and full of unhappy emotions, and I understand that nothing I could say can assauge that. Despite that, I still feel the need to say that there's a whole lot of people out there in this world that care a whole lot about you. Please find a piece of comfort in that.
Love,
Annette
My thoughts and prayers and the thoughts and prayers of all that I know here in central Michigan are with our brothers and sisters in the UK. We know what you are going through and the USA will back you up! Let none of us rest till those that would commit such an horrible act are brought to justice. May peace be with you tonite while you sleep!
On Tues morning my wife and I left our Kings Cross Hotel and caught the 8:50 tube from the Kings Cross station to Heathrow to make the journey back to Oz. 48 hours later all this happens .... it sent shivers down our spines.
Am so glad to hear Kavey and all our other London friends & relatives are ok.
In March of 1986 I left New Zealand for the first time for the start of a months holiday in Australia. The first destination was Melbourne. I was travelling with a friend & we had just finished checking in when a car bomb exploded a couple of streets away from where we were, killing two police officers, one of which was a woman. I was some what innocent to this type of action at that time. Not realising what had just occured, we made jokes that Gadaffi was attacking. We actually thought that the explosion we heard was some sort of construction going on. The horror that I felt then when we realised what had just happened is still the same now watching the images on television & listening to the news reports. My thoughts are with all those that have been unfortunate enough to have been caught up in these terrible events in London.
Google has a black ribbon with the hotline number on their UK site. Asi - have you bought a lottery ticket? Very glad you're OK, sounds too close for comfort.
Last Updated: Thursday, 21 July, 2005, 12:26 GMT 13:26 UK
Emergency services have been called to three Tube stations after "incidents", Scotland Yard said.
Police confirmed they had been called to Warren Street, Oval and Shepherd's Bush stations.
There have been reports of smoke coming from two of the stations and all three have been evacuated.
The whole of the Northern Line has been suspended, along with the Victoria Line and the Hammersmith and City. There are no reports of any casualties.
Police also confirmed that emergency service personnel have responded to reports of an incident on a route 26 bus in Hackney Road.
A spokesman for London Underground said the nature of the incidents was unknown.
One hospital, near Warren St station, has started its emergency plan.
Sosiane Mohellavi, 35, was travelling from Oxford Circus to Walthamstow when she was evacuated from a train at Warren Street.
"I was in the carriage and we smelt smoke - it was like something was burning.
"Everyone was panicked and people were screaming. We had to pull the alarm. I am still shaking."
But a BBC reporter outside Warren St station said there was no sign of smoke outside.
None of the devices are in the heart of the city but they are busy enough areas, at present only 1 fatality reported and that is most probably one of the bombers were his nail bomb device (clearly meant to main people) went off incorrectly.
According to news, seems that devices were duds: the primers have exploded but the main payloads have not. Areas sealed off and police not going anywhere near them. I presume that bomb disposal is going in to try and disarm/make safe - they will need the evidence.
Another update, it appears they were small devices using detenators only, and at least some of the devices the bombers attemted to throw them onto tube trains as doors closed and passenger/public attempted to prevent this.
The whole incidents appear to be on a much more amateurish level than 7/7 which is a big relief
Police are securing the University College Hospital area, near to warren St tube. No fatalities apparently. 1 person injured. Chemical protection suits being used but appears only precautionary. Mobile phones may be off again - I'm having trouble getting any response from London.
Police are searching for "bombers" may be why many areas being cordoned off.
Whitehall being sealed off as senior political meeting about to start.
London appeaars v. calm but several areas at a standstill. Talk of copycat actions as three tubes and a bus hit again.
:(
P
Sounds rather like an attempt by a more amateur group to jump on the bandwagon after the more serious 7 July attacks.
That said, they have achieved significant disruption.
I heard that the one injury was to the individual carrying the nailbomb rucksack when it exploded though I think that's not confirmed.
I'm staying overnight with a friend in Balham as I'm working in Tooting today and tomorrow and even if I can get home to North London, getting back in tomorrow morning will be too much of a drama.
