Post by Tulameen on Jul 8, 2005 9:56:36 GMT -5
I heard from a Londoner that the actual death toll is more like 700.
BBC NEWS
London bombs killed 'at least 50'
More than 50 people died in the London bomb attacks, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said.
Sir Ian Blair said the final death toll was unlikely to top 100, but warned an unknown number of bodies remain in the blast-hit Tube train at Russell Square.
The police had an "implacable resolve" to track down those responsible for the bombings, the Met Commissioner said.
The blasts on three Tubes and a bus left 700 hurt, with 100 held overnight in hospital and 22 serious or critical.
It was "blindingly obvious" that a terrorist cell was operating in Britain, Sir Ian said, as massive intelligence operation to find the perpetrators moved into gear.
'Savagery'
Politicians and policemen have all paid tribute to the resilience of the people of London, with transport returning to a near-normal service on the Tube.
Speaking from the G8 summit in Gleneagles, and flanked by world leaders, the prime minister said the purpose of terrorism was to put anger and hatred in people's hearts.
"It is by its savagery designed to cover all conventional politics in darkness, to overwhelm the dignity of democracy and proper process with the impact of bloodshed and of terror."
But it would not succeed, he said, adding that the only hope was the alternative to such hatred.
Ports and airports are on a state of high alert and a huge recovery of CCTV material has started in an attempt to identify the bombers.
Anti-terrorist branch head Andy Hayman said each device used in Thursday's attacks contained less than 10 lbs (4.5kg) of high explosive and could have been carried in a rucksack.
I saw three bodies on the track - I couldn't look, it was so horrific
Scott Wenbourne
Devices were left on the floor in the Tube trains, and may have been left on a seat or the floor of the bus, he added.
Despite media speculation that the bus attack in Tavistock Square - which claimed 13 lives - was the work of a suicide bomber, Sir Ian said there was "absolutely nothing" to suggest this.
But he added: "There is nothing to rule it out. It may have been that or it may have been a bomb left on a seat."
Mobile plan
Emergency services are encountering difficulties recovering bodies from the site of the bus blast and also from the Tube train between King's Cross and Russell Square.
Assistant Commissioner Hayman said: "It's yet to be the case for us to get near the carriage. There is a risk of the tunnel being unsafe. I ask everyone's patience as we progress this matter."
Rushing could endanger the operation, he added.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said looking for potential bombers was like searching for "needles in haystacks".
A claim on the website of a previously unknown group, the Secret Organisation Group of al-Qaeda of Jihad Organisation in Europe, saying it was behind the blast, was now being taken seriously, he said.
'Visible presence'
The failure to predict Thursday's bombs should not obscure past successes, he said, but admitted: "It certainly was a failure of intelligence in the sense that we didn't know this was coming."
He also defended the recent downgrading of the terrorism threat from severe general to substantial.
Prince Charles spent more than an hour, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, visiting casualties and staff at St Mary's Hospital near the Edgware Road tube blast.
Scotland Yard confirmed seven people died in the Liverpool Street explosion, another seven at Edgware Road and at least 21 at the King's Cross blast.
Police will be a more visible presence of officers in the English capital on Friday.
Anyone worried about relatives or friends they have not heard from is advised to contact a special police hotline on 0870 156 6344 .
Blasts occurred:
Between Aldgate and Liverpool Street tube stations
Between King's Cross and Russell Square tube stations
At Edgware Road tube station
On bus at Tavistock Square
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/4663931.stm
Published: 2005/07/08 14:35:32 GMT
© BBC MMV
BBC NEWS
London bombs killed 'at least 50'
More than 50 people died in the London bomb attacks, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said.
Sir Ian Blair said the final death toll was unlikely to top 100, but warned an unknown number of bodies remain in the blast-hit Tube train at Russell Square.
The police had an "implacable resolve" to track down those responsible for the bombings, the Met Commissioner said.
The blasts on three Tubes and a bus left 700 hurt, with 100 held overnight in hospital and 22 serious or critical.
It was "blindingly obvious" that a terrorist cell was operating in Britain, Sir Ian said, as massive intelligence operation to find the perpetrators moved into gear.
'Savagery'
Politicians and policemen have all paid tribute to the resilience of the people of London, with transport returning to a near-normal service on the Tube.
Speaking from the G8 summit in Gleneagles, and flanked by world leaders, the prime minister said the purpose of terrorism was to put anger and hatred in people's hearts.
"It is by its savagery designed to cover all conventional politics in darkness, to overwhelm the dignity of democracy and proper process with the impact of bloodshed and of terror."
But it would not succeed, he said, adding that the only hope was the alternative to such hatred.
Ports and airports are on a state of high alert and a huge recovery of CCTV material has started in an attempt to identify the bombers.
Anti-terrorist branch head Andy Hayman said each device used in Thursday's attacks contained less than 10 lbs (4.5kg) of high explosive and could have been carried in a rucksack.
I saw three bodies on the track - I couldn't look, it was so horrific
Scott Wenbourne
Devices were left on the floor in the Tube trains, and may have been left on a seat or the floor of the bus, he added.
Despite media speculation that the bus attack in Tavistock Square - which claimed 13 lives - was the work of a suicide bomber, Sir Ian said there was "absolutely nothing" to suggest this.
But he added: "There is nothing to rule it out. It may have been that or it may have been a bomb left on a seat."
Mobile plan
Emergency services are encountering difficulties recovering bodies from the site of the bus blast and also from the Tube train between King's Cross and Russell Square.
Assistant Commissioner Hayman said: "It's yet to be the case for us to get near the carriage. There is a risk of the tunnel being unsafe. I ask everyone's patience as we progress this matter."
Rushing could endanger the operation, he added.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said looking for potential bombers was like searching for "needles in haystacks".
A claim on the website of a previously unknown group, the Secret Organisation Group of al-Qaeda of Jihad Organisation in Europe, saying it was behind the blast, was now being taken seriously, he said.
'Visible presence'
The failure to predict Thursday's bombs should not obscure past successes, he said, but admitted: "It certainly was a failure of intelligence in the sense that we didn't know this was coming."
He also defended the recent downgrading of the terrorism threat from severe general to substantial.
Prince Charles spent more than an hour, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, visiting casualties and staff at St Mary's Hospital near the Edgware Road tube blast.
Scotland Yard confirmed seven people died in the Liverpool Street explosion, another seven at Edgware Road and at least 21 at the King's Cross blast.
Police will be a more visible presence of officers in the English capital on Friday.
Anyone worried about relatives or friends they have not heard from is advised to contact a special police hotline on 0870 156 6344 .
Blasts occurred:
Between Aldgate and Liverpool Street tube stations
Between King's Cross and Russell Square tube stations
At Edgware Road tube station
On bus at Tavistock Square
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/4663931.stm
Published: 2005/07/08 14:35:32 GMT
© BBC MMV