I'm watching this on News 24 as it unfolds.

Around 8 explosions in the underground and on busses. Multiple fatalities.

A double decker bus had its entire top half ripped off, blood all over. At least one side street may have been targetted too.

The only silver lining is that everyone is being very calm and the emergency services are coping well.

Theres no way this could have been just an 'accident' as the first reports suggested. Look's like London has had it's first terrorist attack in years, and it seems remarkably well co-ordinated.

I'm watching News 24 as well.

Two major updates to what Calantyr said:

-Police have confirmed two deaths at Aldgate East Station following the blast.

-Arab sources monitoring al-Qaeda have told the BBC that this is almost certainly the work of bin Laden's group.

Incidentally, it's interesting to watch the emergency plan go into action. I've always had quite a bit of faith in the emergency services, and it's heartening to see that justified, since they appear to be handling this very calmly and competently.

My god this is odd.
I think of England as being a safe terrorist free place.
I hope no one else is injured

Kind of impressive how fast Aussie news has it covered

I'm reasonably impressed with Blair - originally it was reported that he would not be leaving the G8 conference but he's just addressed the press and he indeed WILL be returning to London.

Unfortunately not the case. We've always had the PIRA to deal with.

Have you seen pictures of the double decker bus? It was full at the time, and now it's twisted metal. You are looking at around 30 fatalities in that bomb blast alone.

Reports say the underground lines have been strewn with bodies. However emergency services can't get to them because of the many fires and it being full with acrid smoke.

If this wasn't a family board I would be swearing my head off about now.

Edit: I was thinking about taking the tube to Hendon this morning too. Could have been me down there. That really is rather frightening.

Edit 2: Al Quadea Europe released a message on a website claiming responibilty.

I wa worried about here people being involved.
Mostly the news is just showing loads of police shuffling around with newy type saying they don't know anything but I can't get near the TV right now or for the last 30 minutes.....the familys watching "House".

Anyone see Blair's address? I missed it, and it's not gone up on the BBC News site yet...

Basicaly showing solidarity, condemning terrorism. He has confirmed it was a terrorist attack. he is flying back to London straight away to offer moral support and gather information first hand.

I know he is good at public speaking and turning on the compassion with the flip of a switch, but he looked genuinely shook up.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Glad that you guys are safe.

Irritatingly, the phone networks seem to be having trouble, making it difficult for me to check up with everybody...

Phones have been cut off in case they can be used to trigger more explosions, like in the Madrid bombing.

Apparently not, they're just very busy indeed.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/07/london_phone/

I thought Blair gave a good speech, but I'm actually most impressed with an interview given by a barrister who was on one of the tube trains when it exploded. He was clearly in shock, but gave a good description of events. When asked the blatant 'let's get a soundbite' question of how he felt about the people who did the attacks his word was 'pity'. I thought it was really admirable that a man who has just walked past the bodies of his countrymen could muster the strength to give such a wise answer. I think his word is going to be my lasting memory of this event.

This is horrible, I feel totally sick to my stomach, How can anyone justify this kind of sick twisted behavior to themselves.
Honestly it makes me want to throw all arabs out of the country even thought I know that it's only one in a million thats even religiously nutty it still seems worth it to prevent killings like this.

I'm in France. I have no idea whether my parents are ok or not.

Just heard that a sniper may have shot an attempted suicide bomber at Canary Warf. I'm looking for links.

There's something like 8 million people in London, so the odds are very definitely on your side, if that's any comfort. I've just heard by email that some of the people I know up there are okay.

50 people dead......
I hope you fry you F**kers go and choke
I'm sending very bad vibes your way.

One of my cousins was supposed to be in Kings Cross when it went up... I've /just/ managed to get through to his mobile... (with much insistance of his adnd my mothers who were panicing wildly) he was running late for work.

I still can't get in touch with another cousin who lives extreamly near one of the explosions, however shes a doctor so may have been called into one of the hospitals.

The evacuation facilities in the underground are quite good. Don't worry.

Plus the phone lines are swamped with calls. I can't call my mate in Hendon even though I'm nowhere near central.

My thoughts are definitely with everyone there.

BBC News now have a dedicated page for this:

London Explosions

My uncle uses the tube every day, i just hope he was already at work.

Calantyr im just wondering where youre getting your information as i have seen none of this on the news, could you put up a link?

I'm amazed by the timing- the day of G8 and the day after getting the Olympics.

Its times like this i understand viligantes

I can't get in touch with funked)out_frog - if anybody hears from her, can you post it here, please?

Scratch that, I can now report that funked)out_frog is okay, as is MrTeapot.

Last I heard the frogit didn't have a mobile phone. She's tough enough to look after herself though.

I'm getting most of my news from BBC News 24. I'm also on a couple of forums and talking some people who were up London while all this happenned. It's pretty much organised chaos as far as details are concerned.

Edit: Thats a relief, Commie.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4660391.stm

link to full statement by those claiming responsibility.

I'm not convinced. That could just as easily be some wannabe-terrorist prats with a website talking themselves up.

Yep, but thats all thats said anything so far. Its certainly not any Irish terrorists, not their style.

Me, I'm worried about the Muslims.

That suppossed Al-Queda statement is laughable. We are trembling with fear are we?

Typical Londoner spirit.
If you bloody my nose, I'll BITE your nose clean off.

If this is suppossed to be terrorism, it has failed. This hasn't made us fear anything. This has simply pissed us off.

If anyone attacks muslims in reprisal for this they had better be dealt with harshly. This was an attack against the Muslims of London as well as the rest of us.

Except, that's the aim. To provoke further and bloodier reprisals, which in turn radicalise the Middle East, who commit more terrorist attacks, which provokes further reprisals, until the only options are one extreme or another.

Wow. I'm so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm glad forum-ites seem to be okay thus far.

Except if through our anger we simply strengthen our resolve, and refuse to strike out blindly.

I hope we have the strength to be mindful of our actions. I'd hate it to degrade into a situation like you suggest.

Trust a teenager to realize that, but can our "experienced leaders"? We can only hope none of those responsible can be traced back to Syria or Iran, or Bush is sure to use this as an excuse to cowboy into there, too. I can't stand how tragedy is used to push government agenda. It's despicable.

Hugs all around. Hope everyone's well.

can you believe the queens staements on this matter
"Deeply shocked" "Horrifed" "Wishes well for those effected" can she be any more neutraly not suporting terrorists?

hey guys, just woke up and saw all the horror on TV. I really am sorry, I hate this had to happen there. My first thought was of you guys! I hope that all the forumites and their family are safe.

Would you prefer her demand their head on a pike?

I agree, I hope that Blair/Bush doesn't make this be an excuse for another war with a political target like Iran. God this is so depressing to see again, I can't help but to believe that the death toll will rise dramatically through the day.

Hugs and sympathy to all affected.

My little sis is in there somewhere on a school trip so I know exactly what you're going through waiting for loved ones to get in contact.

I received word of this at school. It's frustrating not knowing what is happening but it is alos very unnerving that the children here are near enough to have family working in town. We're very big on commuting and currently they have no idea what has happened- We've been told to give as little info as possible. Thankfully know one I know was hurt or worse- first call was to my hunny. He's safe at home in bed feeling yucky.

I don't know what to say... I hope everyone here is OK, that's what got me the most worried. What a horrible thing to happen.

Nobody trapped anymore. I have to admit that's what I feared most.
33 confirmed fatalities according to the BBC. Most of those seemed to be at the King's Cross explosion.

Having lived in London practically all my life I can once again PROUDLY say that our emergency services are one of the most superior in the world, especially with regards to 'terror' type threats/ serious incidents in the centre of town. While everyone I know working or living in town is fine it still shakes you a bit understandably. My Mum woke me with the news at 9.30ish, she works in Paddington overlooking St Mary's hospital where loads of the casualties are being taken from Edgware. Another friend is overlooking Aldgate East station and saw a lot of the evacuation.

Both the services, and the common sense of the locals should be praised. Its odd they've not mentioned the armed forces though. I met a soldier in Victoria trying to find his way to the Chelsea barracks. He was on leave but had been called in to the local barracks on 'volunteer' duty. Its been heartening to see that the response was so well organised...even using buses to transport walking wounded.

While I was at home today I've just had to walk to and from Victoria from Clapham. I've had family come in from Oxford today who were stuck so couldnt get out of town again. Soggy Smiler to the rescue. From Vauxhall to Victoria, the amount of people walking home was weird. That stretch is usually choked full of cars yet even though we were miles away and hours after the blasts the disruption was amazing.

On a slight rant note, its bizarre that the BBC were the first to mention Al Queda. Now all the news I'm watching are doing it. Claims and whatever aside there is no way that at 11 o'clock this could be made. Clearly the media were just using their name as a means to further explain what a terrorist attack meant. Stupid! Yes it was a co-ordinated attack. Yes it is clearly a terrorist attack, the two almost go hand in hand. But to just use Al Queda's name so quickly is surely irresponsible and not exactly professional journalism? "hmm I know, there's been an attack...who does those?...oh yeah, they do..." disappointing. Now hours later when more facts are in you can start looking for culprits. I dont mean to be ranty but the press conference thats just been on with the tube and services chiefs was correct, to already lay blame and speculate at an 'Islamic' terror group is wrong, and only after the facts are collected will it (we hope) be made clear.


EDIT>> Oops bit long but i'm ill so ranting couldnt be helped. You should have seen it before I re read it before posting

Glad to see that our London forumites are okay - ran to the computer in worry as soon as I heard.

Hang in there all, things are going to be crazy in your country for awhile. My love's with you...

Ta Commie for the concern, I'm fine AND I found an umbrella.

I would prefer her to show some real emotion and concern for her people rather than this terribly polite ACT your city has been blown up it's acceptable to be angry.

Wait a minute...has no one thought about the coincidence between the Olimpic Bid and the bombings? The French are more pissed off than I thought.