Bombs in London

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:02 am

Just read on the news site (link to BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm that there have been explosions in London.

I hope everybody here who live/know people that live there are okay. I know we front some english people on GameBanshee.

Let's hope there is a non-terrorist explanation on this, otherwise, such an act will only help to throw more fuel on whatever fires still exists after 9/11.
But then again - could be several "terroristic" factions, ranging from Iraq and 9/11 to G8 to North Ireland.

Lets hope for the best.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:54 am

I am ok, hope all other London SYMers are. What chaos. I was on the Tube when we were told the whole network was shut down and we had to get buses. Then I was on a buses and they said the whole bus network has been suspended in central London. I took about two hours to walk across London to work to discover that the case I was working on might not even go ahead, and I can't get home.

There is no question that this is a terrorist attack IMHO. Six explosions in various places across the city at the same time? My sympathies to anyone who has been involved.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:03 am

What a wonderfull world...

Terrorism tread slowly lowered in the minds of people, untill now.

Hopefully, this isn't a sign of things to come with the Olympics.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:04 am

According to the latest I heard, they have found explosive residue, so it is very unlikely it would be an accident.
Also the amount of bombs, and the location of them speak of an attack.

This is something which really can bring the fury up in me, because I have absolutly no respect whatsoever for somebody even sympatising with such things.

edit: Glad you're allright (under the circumstances) @Geogri

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:18 am

Damn thing. To spread panic is insane. They also say that people are still locked inside trains and stations for hours in the brazilian news... damn.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:18 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]According to the latest I heard, they have found explosive residue, so it is very unlikely it would be an accident.
Also the amount of bombs, and the location of them speak of an attack.[/QUOTE]

Tony Blair has made a statement saying that they were terrorist attacks timed to coincide with the G8 summit. Up until now, they were still calling the explosions "power surges".

@Luis I was lucky that the train I was on stopped in a station.

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:20 am

It's good to hear you are okay, Georgi. Hopefully our other London-area SYMians are as well. Judging by the timing and effects of the explosions, it certainly has the appearance of something intentional and planned.

@Xan: I wonder how long it will be until some entity claims responsibility?

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:30 am

I just heard from Ysh, so she is ok.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:35 am

[QUOTE=Chanak]<snip>
@Xan: I wonder how long it will be until some entity claims responsibility?[/QUOTE]

That would be totally depending on what the motive is I would think.
But I would think something of this magnitude to be clamined relative fast - the question is then indeed ... can we trust that claim.
I would think several organisations would try to capitalize on this attack by claiming responsibility when infact it isn't them.

On some level - I hope it is G8 related, because the 9/11 effects are still around, and if this is connected to these actions somehow, the effects will be magnified even further, both social, politically and economical.
It would for instance mean much more uncertaincy in the economy, with (even more) rising oil prices and investmentstops.

[QUOTE=Georgi]I just heard from Ysh, so she is ok.[/QUOTE] Good to know.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:52 am

Very, very sad. My condolences to all victims and their families.

Good to hear you @Georgi and Ysh were not among the victims.

[QUOTE=Xandax]On some level - I hope it is G8 related, because the 9/11 effects are still around, and if this is connected to these actions somehow, the effects will be magnified even further, both social, politically and economical.[/QUOTE]

Me too. The world has become more polarised after the 9/11 WTC attack, and more in the same direction would further increase the already aggressive stance certain regions and governments have towards each other.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:53 am

From what I've heard so far - unofficial I think - it seems an european part of Al Quaida has claimed responsibility.
I hope this isn't true, because it will only further fuel the distrust between (some) westerns and muslims.

If needing to find some "positive" in this, it is that the english is a pretty ressilient people used to the IRA terrorbombings since what - the 60s?
I doubt this will influence London much in the next periode of time, and it's effect on the Olympic Games would also be limited I think.
They would already have high security where possible when it came to that, and it is quite some years into the future.

However - the time of the attack was relative wellplanned, because I would think the moral was very high due to winning the Olympic Games, and this can possible place a damper on that spirit. But I have faith in the english peoples ability to come back from this withouth many scars - except what is placed by the casulties.

Edit: Latest numbers say 10 confirmed dead.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:02 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]However - the time of the attack was relative wellplanned, because I would think the moral was very high due to winning the Olympic Games, and this can possible place a damper on that spirit. But I have faith in the english peoples ability to come back from this withouth many scars - except what is placed by the casulties.[/QUOTE]

I think that the Olympic thing is probably coincidental, considering the time it probably takes to plan this kind of attack - it's more likely to have been timed to coincide with G8.

Yeah, latest reports are that Al-Qaida are claiming responsibility.

Re the British stiff upper lip, apparently all the judges in the High Court are charging stubbornly on with their cases...

Lestat · Post by **Lestat** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:02 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]From what I've heard so far - unofficial I think - it seems an european part of Al Quaida has claimed responsibility.
I hope this isn't true, because it will only further fuel the distrust between (some) westerns and muslims.
[/QUOTE]

On first sight, the attacks do resemble the Madrid bombings... so I fear Al Qaïda might well be involved. But they will be happy to claim responsibility for anything that upsets relations between the West and Islam.

Courage to all you Londoners out there.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:11 am

Well, at least the trains are apparently still running out of Waterloo, so I should be able to get home later.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:15 am

Just saw it on the telly.

I hope the others, like Nippy and a certain Pantless One are okay. My sympathies to those who were directly affected.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:24 am

Nippy lives in Reading, doesn't he?

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:36 am

Oh...yeah... that's right...

... I forgot.

At any rate, please take care Gorgeous One. Hope you get home safe and sound.

Fiberfar · Post by **Fiberfar** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:40 am

I just read that the organization that claim to be behind the attack are now threatening Denmark and Italy.

Cuchulain82 · Post by **Cuchulain82** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:43 am

Here is the CNN version of the article. I generally think BBC news is a little better than CNN, but more information is always better.

@Georgi, Ysh, other symers

Be safe. I hope you were no where near the trouble this morning. The British are a hardy people, but this is just awful.

Al Queda, or some faction thereof, has claimed responsibilty. First 9/11, then the Madrid bombings, now this... I hope this isn't as deadly as either of the other two, but I just don't understand any of it.

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:13 am

My condolences for all victims of the attacks. According to the latest update, there are 40 fatalities and over 2000 people injured. I don't think that the explosions are related to the Olympic News: they seem to be too well planned to be an impulsive decision of a terrorist group. But to see this happen right after the morale boost of the Olympic Games, must be very hard to swallow for the Londoners.