More than 30 die in London blasts

A series of bomb attacks on London's transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 350 others.

There were three explosions on the Underground - which police said left 33 dead - and one on a double-decker bus in which an unknown number died.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has returned to London from the G8 summit, has described the attack as "barbaric".

An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.

US President George Bush told reporters at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles that "the war on terror goes on."

It's particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty and Africa Tony Blair

The Queen said she was "deeply shocked" and sent her sympathy to those affected.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick confirmed 33 people had died in the blasts on the Underground.

He said there were 21 confirmed fatalities following the blast at 0856 BST in a tunnel between King's Cross and Russell Square.

There were seven confirmed deaths after a blast at 0851 BST 100 yards into a tunnel from Liverpool Street station. The train was either a Central Line or Circle Line train.

And at 0917 BST an explosion on a train coming into Edgware Road underground station blew a hole through a wall onto another train in an adjoining platform.

Three trains were thought to be involved and there were five confirmed deaths so far, Mr Paddick said.

People were screaming and shouting and saying things like I'm dying, I'm dying, please help me. Ana Castro Liverpool Street Station

He said it was not yet known how many died in the bus blast at 0947 at the junction of Upper Woburn Square and Tavistock Place.

London Ambulance Service said it had treated 45 patients with serious or critical injuries including burns, amputations, chest and blast injuries and fractured limbs.

Some 300 more people were treated for minor injuries including lacerations and smoke inhalation, LAS assistant chief officer Russell Smith added.

In other developments:

• The officer in charge of policing the G8 summit said many of the 1,500 Metropolitan Police officers in Scotland would be urgently redeployed to London

• New Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said celebrations to mark the homecoming from Singapore of the successful London Olympic bid team have been cancelled

• Pope Benedict said the blasts were "barbaric acts against humanity" in a message to the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor

• 54 state schools were closed in Westminster

• Mobile phone services across London were jammed with all major networks reporting problems as people tried to contact relatives and friends. A spokeswoman for Vodafone said the emergency services were being given priority.

Mr Paddick confirmed police were looking into whether the bus blast was the work of a suicide bomber.

But, he added: "It could as easily be an explosive device left on the bus as the work of a suicide bomber. We are not able to determine which it was yet."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking from Singapore before flying back to the UK, said Londoners would not be divided by a "cowardly attack".

He said it was an "indiscriminate" attempt at slaughter with no consideration for age or religion.

All London Underground services have been suspended indefinitely and bus services in central London (Zone One) have been halted.

HAVE YOUR SAY There are a lot of people phoning loved ones to make sure they are ok Amy Hinkley, London,

Early reports had suggested a power surge could be to blame for explosions on the Underground but this was later discounted.

Describing the bus blast in Tavistock Square, witness Belinda Seabrook said she saw an explosion rip through the vehicle.

"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double-decker bus was in the air," she said.

She said the bus had been travelling from Euston to Russell Square and was "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.

"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air." she said.

One caller to BBC Five Live said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines".

Blasts occurred: Between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street tube stations Between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations At Edgware Road tube station On bus at Tavistock Square

Story from BBC NEWS:
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Published: 2005/07/07 15:11:48 GMT

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