Explosions in London

[MarkB]

First reported as power surges on the underground, but a bus (reportedly THREE buses) has exploded now too. Holy ****.

[Billyray]

Yep another stupid terrorist attack ala Madrid. I hope all our London friends are safe.

[James]

Oh my god....
http://www.eitb24.com/noticia_en.php?id=74075
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=asw2m4rqbWMQ&refer=germany

Who do you think it is? Not because of the Olympics, I'm sure, but that's the only thing I can think of that London's been in the news for... there's also speculation it's related to G8 in Scotland...which doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense to me, but either does bombing busses. Power surge? Bull**** to that.

I'm sickened 1/2 the news articles I'm reading are just concerned about how it's effecting the ****ing stock market. You have to be ****ing kidding me.

Stay away from any populated areas, and keep away from any public transport methods.

-------------------------
[edit]
Maybe people pissed off about the ID card thing?
After all, like was mentioned in Sean's thread: this'd effect criminals primarily.

[MarkB]

They've found bombs, reportedly 3 buses have been blown up. Incka was saying on MSN it's the government doing it, which is just plain retarded (seriously Sean, grow up).

My wife is in central london (Oxford St) - her work is refusing to close, and a lot of her customers (especially tourists) are unaware of what's happening. It's just mad.

[Generalissimo]

From AP news and surprisingly fox saying it partly could be an attack on an Israeli finance minister.

Some Israeli news have even said he was forwarned: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=85346

[MarkB]

James, I've been calling her store whenever I hear anything new. Everyone there knows what's going on (they're not far from Russel Square, where (one of) the bus blew up, so she's obviously frightened.

The company she works for doesn't care about their employees. At the time of the 9/11 attacks, the Canary Wharf complex in London (which has huge tall towers too, like the WTC (tho not as tall)) were evacuated - except for the branch of my wife's company! They stayed open the entire time, you know, in case anyone wanted to buy a camera during the chaos...!

[Chris]

I don't really allow political discussion. I'm so tempted to correct some people here too but I won't because its not allowed.

Discuss the bombings, but no foreign policy discussion.

[chromate]

I just hope the G8 do a lot to end poverty, as this will help stops future attacks more than all the anti-terrorism measures that I'm sure will come out of this.

You really think that will make a difference to the organisations that do this kind of thing? Not a chance. These bombs were most likely timed to disrupt the G8 meeting. If they actually care about ending poverty, do you honestly think that adds up?

And as for our own government being directly responsible, as Mark rightly says - grow up. I know you're very opinionated, and that's a good thing, but you need to learn to think before you speak - particularly at times like this.

[Mike]

Because of the G8 thing a lot of the police are up in Scotland... meaning that it will cause even more chaos by planting the bombs now. That's why they've done it now imho.

[Billyray]

Mark I think you need to start planning how to get her home given that public transport will be offline probably for quite a while. Maybe send a taxi from outside the city? Plus "chuck a sickie" tomorrow and go and do something different together to help get over the trauma.

[moonshield]

This is a very unfortunate occurance. Especially for it to happen in such a great city after a time of jubilation and for the innocent people that have to deal with this. It hits close to home some how, more so then other attacks did.

London did and is handling it's self very well from what I can see...

[moonshield]

40 killed, omg. That is much worse then originally reported. This is truly a tragedy. http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/london_bombings

[Mike]

Hopefully that article is a inaccurate, because this one reads two people have been killed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659093.stm

[MarkB]

Confirmed at least 30 people now, 20-ish on one train alone.

[Blue Cat Buxton]

BBC are now saying 33 plus an unknown number from the bus blast

[MarkB]

Scarily, the bus that blew up is reportedly a 59, same one my wife catches to work. (Other reports say it's a number 30).

[Generalissimo]

It is an awful tragedy, but I can't help remembering some of the things Live 8 said abour the numbers dieing from poverty...

[The New Guy]

Poverty is unrelated.

[MarkB]

Just got home from collecting my wife from work (and giving a colleague of hers a lift home). The traffic into London was fine, clear - smooth sailing! Streams of people walking across Waterloo bridge, as obviously the tube is closed, buses are limited, and every taxi is busy. Amazing sight...

[The New Guy]

Glad you got to her Mark :)

[lz83ny]

I have witnessed the 9/11 attack and I know what it feels like. R.I.P. to all victims of this cowardly attack. However, doesn't that strike you that someone is obsessed with numbers here, the date today is 7/7/2005, now add up 2+5 and you get 7+7+7. I don't know about you but I've read some some stuff about numerology and it's deeply rooted in the Kabbalah, a body of mystical teachings of rabbinical origin, often based on an esoteric interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Now, speaking of 9/11:

According to Hebrew scriptures September 11, 1999 was the 6,000th anniversary of Adam's creation, and year 1 on the Hebrew calendar.

Most other historic events between those 2,002 years (3 B. C. -1999 A. D.) involve either war or violence.

Following are the significant events of September 11 throughout history:

Sept. 11, 1297: William Wallace leads over 15,000 Scottish soldiers to victory over the English Army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Battle depicted in the film Braveheart.

Sept. 11, 1499: French forces take Milan, Italy, with little opposition. At that time Italy was comprised of regions with city states.

Sept. 11, 1609: Henry Hudson sails into New York harbor and discovers Manhattan Island and the mouth of the river later named in his honor - the Hudson River.

Sept. 11, 1709: The Spanish War of Succession (1702-14) represents the first European war of the Modern Era. On September 11, 1709 an Anglo-Dutch-Austrian force defeat the French in the Battle of Malplaquet, and on September 11, 1714, after 13 months of siege, Spanish and French troops broke into Barcelona, ending Catalonia's sovereignty.

Sept. 11, 1776: After the fall of New York to the British, a Peace Conference was held between General Howe and three prominent representatives of the Continental Congress - Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge. After taking the Americans key city, Howe thought he was entitled to a peace settlement. The Americans, having declared independence in July, considered separation from England as non-negotiable. The conference of Sept. 11, 1776, ended and the war continued for seven years.

Sept. 11, 1777: The British defeat the Americans, led by George Washington, at the Battle of Brandywine Creek in the American War of Independence. The battle is regarded as the first where Americans carried the American Flag (Old Glory) to battle.

September 11, 1777: American Flag First Used in Battle

Sept. 11, 1782: The siege of Fort Henry begins, and becomes the last battle of the American Revolution.

Sept. 11, 1814: The American navy defeat the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

Sept. 11, 1855: The siege of Sevastopol ends when British, French, and Piedmontese troops capture the main naval base of the Russian Black fleet in the Crimean War.

Sept. 11, 1922: Despite Arab protests, a British mandate is proclaimed in Palestine on September 11, 1922. The mandate came into effect at the end of September 1922.

Sept. 11, 1941: Construction of the Pentagon began on this day in 1941. The purpose was to provide a temporary solution to the War Department's critical shortage of space. The ground breaking ceremony also took place on September 11, 1941. Sixty years later, to the day, the Pentagon is attacked for the first time in it's history on Sept. 11, 2001.

Sept. 11, 1944: President Roosevelt, British PM Winston Churchill, and Canadian PM Mackenzie King meet in Canada, at the Quebec Conference. Also, the US 1st Army crosses the border into German territory.

Sept. 11, 1948: Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the first head of state for Pakistan dies in Karachi. He is called "The Great Leader" and "Father of the Nation". Born on Christmas Day, 1876, he is schooled in London and later returns to build the nation of Pakistan. Jinnah, a Muslim, was a strong advocate for Muslim - Hindu unity.

Sept. 11, 1972: The troubled Munich Olympic Games end on September 11, 1972 Eleven Israelis are killed by terrorists.

Sept. 11, 1973: Chilean President Salvador Allende is killed in a violent military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.

Sept. 11, 1990: U. S. President George Bush addresses Congress on the Persian Gulf crisis, vowing that "Sadam Hussein will fail" in his takeover of Kuwait. Eleven years later, to the day, his son George W. Bush, would face an even greater challenge.

Sept. 11, 1999: The Jewish calendar is 6,000 years old. September 11, 1999 is regarded as the 6,000th anniversary of Adam's creation. September 11th is recognized by many faiths as the end of a major cycle.

*George Bush Sr. announces the 'New World Order'.

Sept. 11, 2001: *Terrorists with connections to Osama bin Laden alledgedly hijack four aircraft. Two are crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York, collapsing both towers. Another plane is crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, collapsing one side. The fourth plane crashes in a Pennsylvania field. The death toll exceeds 3,000 lives. U. S. President George W. Bush responds with a global attack on terrorism.

[Generalissimo]

I'm sure you can do that for most dates. It's like the bible code thing - you can do it with any book.

[Generalissimo]

Interesting thing about this:


Sept. 11, 1973: Chilean President Salvador Allende is killed in a violent military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.


The US government was involved, it's documented and mainstream that it was, and Henry Kissinger was a major player in this - They feared that the democratic socialism in Chilie would spread to other countries and they would not be under as much US influence.

[lz83ny]

I'm sure you can do that for most dates. It's like the bible code thing - you can do it with any book.
You're right incka but lots of those events seem to overlap. Whoever's behind this, they gotta be sick and twisted.

[James]

It hits close to home some how, more so then other attacks did.
Yeah, I agree. For some reason it seems more important than 9/11--even though Bush and all those other Yanks can't have a speech without throwing it in there.


However, doesn't that strike you that someone is obsessed with numbers here, the date today is 7/7/2005, now add up 2+5 and you get 7+7+7.
Uhhh I'm interested to know where that 2 you're adding to 5 came from.

Glad your wife's safe, Mark.

[r2d2]

I think its the 2 and 5 from 2005?

All coincidence though - these things are over hundreds of years! I bet an enormous amount of stuff occurs each day through history, and how accurate are the records?

[lz83ny]

Yeah, I agree. For some reason it seems more important than 9/11--even though Bush and all those other Yanks can't have a speech without throwing it in there.


Uhhh I'm interested to know where that 2 you're adding to 5 came from.

Glad your wife's safe, Mark.

Are you serious?, do you know how many people died in the 911 attack? How can you say one tragic event is more important than the other? They're all in our hearts.

2005 = 2 + 0 + 0 + 5 = 7

[moonshield]

I didn't say it hit closer to home then 9/11, being an American that would a very odd thing to say indeed. By other I meant the other ones.

Mark, Good to hear that your wife got back safe and sound.

[MarkB]

I don't like to say one event is more shocking than the other (this isn't a competition). Not meant to be critical of anyone here :)

To be honest, I'm still shocked by 9/11 all these years later, while I'm not THAT shocked by what happened yesterday... Strange.

[Cutter]

I caught this on CNN International this morning, a woman was saying how she was chasing after a bus trying to get a ride just before it blew up!

[James]

I guess it's just that it kinda got worn thin by the speeches is what I was trying to say.


a woman was saying how she was chasing after a bus trying to get a ride just before it blew up!
Wow, talk about lucky...


The company she works for doesn't care about their employees. At the time of the 9/11 attacks, the Canary Wharf complex in London (which has huge tall towers too, like the WTC (tho not as tall)) were evacuated - except for the branch of my wife's company! They stayed open the entire time, you know, in case anyone wanted to buy a camera during the chaos...!
Ah, didn't catch that last time I read through. That's horrible and disgusting of the company. Personally, I'd just leave the store (not quit, just evacuate like the rest of the people.)

I'm glad that there hasen't been any further chaos...

[lz83ny]

I caught this on CNN International this morning, a woman was saying how she was chasing after a bus trying to get a ride just before it blew up!
That sounds like Final Destination, wasn't her turn but you know death!

[r2d2]

Have to say I am very impressed at the rapid progress the police have made: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4676577.stm

[Generalissimo]

I'm hoping they find everyone involved in this country quickly, like they seem to be doing, so they don't have an excuse to invade another country.

[James]

Isn't it nice how civilized we are nowadays? We actually need "excuses" to invade places.

[MarkB]

My wife's store was evacuated on Monday because some idiot left their bag in the store, and so the store had to assume it was a bomb (do YOU wanna check it first?;)). Damn stupid people - you'd think 30 years of the IRA would give people a clue, but I guess not!

Multiple bomb scares the past week, and all because of people not looking after their luggage or shopping bags. Hmmph.

[James]

Yeah, that's pretty careless of them to do.

[MarkB]

And now it's happening again (although much smaller in scale; only blasting caps this time, or something) :rolleyes:

Shoot 'em* all, I say >(


(*Islamic extremists)

[chromate]

From the personal accounts I've heard on the BBC it seems at least one of the people carrying rucksacks that exploded (if you can call it that) was English and white. Not that that means they can't be an Islamic extremist, but it seems less likely in this case.

Doesn't seem like anyone's badly injured which is good. Though, these little explosions almost seem like warnings, as if to say "we still here" kind of thing, which is worrying. I just hope that this don't continue into one long bombing campaign. That was my main concern after the first load of explosions. :(