Blasts hit London

Viro · #1 July 7th, 2005, 07:13 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4659093.stm

Looks like London is being targeted by unknown terrorist groups. Some are saying al-Qaeda but they seem to be scape goats for nearly everything, so I'm taking that with a lot of salt. 6 blasts occurred today, and so far there have been 2 confirmed deaths.

And I was going to go down to London today to get something in the Apple store. If I did, I would have been there at about the time of the attacks, which would have been quite scary....

bbloke · #2 July 7th, 2005, 07:21 AM

Yes, I heard about this as the news was breaking early this morning. Funnily enough, a French colleague was phoned by her Mom (who is in France) to see if she was OK and an Italian colleague read about it on an Italian news site, before the British colleagues knew anything about it!

Originally there were statements about a power surge, but now the talk is of six or seven explosive devices, and at least 90 casualties, with Tony Blair coming back from the G8 summit.

fjdouse · #3 July 7th, 2005, 08:09 AM

My dad was at Edgeware Road and people have died there, he's fine though and just sitting tight until he can get back home. I hope this doesn't throw petrol on the nationalist fire and incite race tensions, or act as an excuse for restrictive laws. I'm surprised it's not happened before though, I think we all knew this would happen after getting involved in Iraq.

Blair has just made a second statement from the G8, with some rather wooden looking heads of state behind him.

bbloke · #4 July 7th, 2005, 08:29 AM

I'm really glad to hear all is OK, fjdouse. My brother was on a train to London when it was stopped due to a "security alert" (familiar words, for those used to a certain Irish republican group's campaign).

I completely agree. I really hope this does not fuel nationalism and an excuse for more clamping down on civil liberties. Populations can act very strangely, granting all sorts of powers to authority or going along with troubling new laws, when in fear. Let's also hope the far right do not use this as an opportunity to stir things up in an attempt to gain votes.

Viro · #5 July 7th, 2005, 09:42 AM

I'm glad that your dad is fine. I too hope that this doesn't throw more fire on the xenophobic segments of British society (especially the BNP). This shouldn't really come as a surprise, after all we did go to Iraq. Nevertheless the gravity of the situation never really strikes you until it ... well, strikes you.

My biggest fear from all this is the Labour government using the bombs as an excuse to impose all sorts of laws to repress Free speech (e.g. Incitement to Religious Hatred act), halt lawful asylum seekers, etc. What's worse, I hope people do not take out their anger and hatred on the Muslims in the UK, since it has been claimed that al-Qaeda are behind the attacks.

We'll see what happens in the coming days.

mw84 · #6 July 7th, 2005, 12:22 PM

Is the information line they gave out not working for anyone else? My dad works in London and I can't get through to his mobile because the networks are jammed and when I try calling the helpline they gave on the news it just goes dead.

fjdouse · #7 July 7th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Haven't used the number, but the mobile networks should be clearer now than earlier, unless there has been a surge in the last hour.

bbloke · #8 July 7th, 2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw84

Is the information line they gave out not working for anyone else? My dad works in London and I can't get through to his mobile because the networks are jammed and when I try calling the helpline they gave on the news it just goes dead.

I haven't tried the helpline (fortunately my parents contacted my brother through his mobile at the time), but I do know there are problems with mobile communications at the moment. The authorities have also said not to contact emergency services unless absolutely necessary, so that is probably a sign of how busy all the switchboards are.

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

I know you must be concerned about your Dad and want information, I just meant that not getting through on his mobile is likely to just be a sign of congestion on the mobile airways. Hang in there (easy for me to say, I know).