The Hindu : Front Page : Explosions cause panic in London

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Friday, Jul 22, 2005

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Explosions cause panic in London

Hasan Suroor

The attackers' intention was to kill but some devices did not go off: Metropolitan Police chief

LONDON: Still dazed by the July 7 bombings, which killed 56 persons in one of the worst terror attacks in western Europe, panic gripped London again on Thursday after four explosions — three on underground trains and one on a double-decker bus — paralysed the city. But unlike on the "black Thursday" two weeks ago, there were no casualties.

Initial indications were that the explosions were not a full-blown bomb blast and might have been caused by "dummies" or detonators. Only one person — suspected to be among the perpetrators — was injured and he was thought to have been carrying a rucksack containing a detonator.

Copycat attacks: experts

Experts said the incidents were "copycat" attacks which normally followed a major terrorist operation such as "7/7" in order to create a scare. But Metropolitan Police chief Ian Blair insisted that the "intention was to kill" and the reason there were no casualties was that some of the devices "remained unexploded."

He indicated that there was "resonance" with the July 7 attacks but said it was too early to speculate whether Al-Qaeda was behind the incidents.

Within hours of the explosions, the police intercepted a young man at gunpoint near Downing Street and led him away for questioning but no details were available immediately. The incident happened as journalists were gathering outside No 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement on the day's events. One more person was arrested but the police declined to give details.

The Prime Minister, appearing outwardly calm, said the incidents appeared designed to "intimidate" and "scare" people, and appealed to Londoners to remain calm and return to "normal" business. "We can't minimise the incidents but we have to react calmly," he said.

The police confirmed that there were four incidents — variously described as "explosions" and "attempted explosions" — but said the situation was "absolutely under control" and people should "move on." There was "no evidence" to indicate an attack involving chemicals.

The staff of University College Hospital, near one of the affected stations, were advised to look for a "black, possibly Asian man, around 6 ft 2 inches with wires protruding from a hole in his blue top."

The first explosion was reported a little after 12.30 p.m. from the Oval tube station in South London followed by those at the Warren Street station, Central London; and Shepherd's Bush, West London, within minutes of each other. About 1.30 p.m., there was a blast on a bus at Hackney, East London. The driver said he heard a "bang'' on the upper deck and saw the bus windows being blown up.

Eyewitnesses said they heard loud explosions followed by smoke and the smell of something burning. One passenger at the Warren Street station said he saw a man carrying a rucksack, which suddenly exploded.

"It was a minor explosion but enough to blow open his rucksack. Everyone rushed from the carriage. People evacuated very quickly. There was no panic," he said.

Many underground lines were suspended, plunging train services into chaos. Those caught up in the incidents were clearly shaken and, on the streets of London, there was a sense of nervousness with people admitting that they were scared to travel on the tube.

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