London - Rush Hour Terrorist Attacks

[Evil Avatar]

As many of you early risers are aware, London has been the subject of multiple early morning terrorist bombings. Check out MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8492258/) or CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/07/07/london.tube/index.html) for all the details.

Four explosions Thursday in London's transit system that killed at least two people and wounded dozens more were "reasonably clear a series of terrorist attacks," Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

More fatalities were sure to follow -- emergency services personnel told CNN writer William Chamberlain that a rescue operation at Kings Cross station had successfully evacuated all survivors, leaving dead below ground "in the double digits."

Three of the blasts took place in the city's subway system and one more hit a double-decker bus, all at the height of rush hour.

Liquidize105: Remember, we must hate the act itself, but not the people involved. Speaking matter of factly, we don't know the circumstances behind the attack.

[Commissar Rob]

Terrible news. Our prayers are with you.

[TRiLoGY]

As said on another thread:
All of our thoughts and wishes are with the victims and families of this Attack!!

[president_fred]

It hasn't really sunk in but I think I will be pretty pissed off soon. My deepest sympathy to anyone who was touched by the attacks.

[TRiLoGY]

Blair vows terrorists won't win: News Item (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4659933.stm)

Tony Blair has said terrorists will not succeed in destroying "our values and our way of life" after blasts hit London's transport network.

[Taco]

This sucks. Got up at 5:30 this morning, jumped on the net and this is the crap that's going on.

Attacking the mass transit system, wonder if it will any effect like post 9/11 flying.

[Ernst_Jager]

The people that do this stuff are the lowest type of life.

[MrMeatshake]

good roundup of the facts so far (from geeks, too) is this wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_London_transport_explosions). current thinking is there were 6 bombs, and the death-toll is currently unknown. a website associated with al-qaeda have claimed responsibility for the attacks, but this has not been confirmed.

besides the obvious news sources, IT news site the register (http://www.thereg.co.uk) also has some good stories on the attacks, and games site eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net) have suspended posting (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=59950) for the rest of the day, as they are based very close to some of the attack sites.

In the light of the terrorist incidents today in Central London, Eurogamer will not be updating its news section.

All of the editorial team here on Eurogamer work in Central London, and we're obviously shaken by what has happened. Like many of our readers we regularly use many of the stations affected by the bombs and have loved ones who were in and around the area this morning.

obviously i'd like to join with the rest of the community to send all those people involved in the attacks in any way our thoughts and best wishes.

EDIT: it looks like eurogamer's sister site gamesindustry.biz (http://gamesindustry.biz/) has also suspended game news posting (http://gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=9984) for at least the remainer of today.

[StoneGut]

Such tradgedy on what should be a celebration for London and the rest of surrounding Eurobe for securing the 2012 Olympics.... so sad.

[MosBen]

Man, don't think I can say anything of value now other than the standard thoughts and prayers thing. Just awful...

[MrMeatshake]

Such tradgedy on what should be a celebration for London and the rest of surrounding Eurobe for securing the 2012 Olympics.... so sad.

yes indeed. it's ironic that on the morning news they were discussing what possible positive effect the announcement of the olympics would have on british workers' productivity. and now it seems the only sensible question to ask is how much productivity has been lost as a result of today. of course, we still don't know the cost in terms of lives, let alone in any other sense.

/me is still somewhat in shock.

EDIT: after posting this, i realised that it didn't sound particularly caring for the people touched by this tragedy, that was obviously not my intention at all.

[i aint yer pa]

Thank you, al Qaeda, for strengthening our British brethren's resolve to seek your complete and utter destruction.

May God be with those that were affected by the horrible tragedy and may He be with those that defend us from this villainy.

[TRiLoGY]

It's strange..

One day we have Live 8 (the Greatest show on Earth), where people of many Nations come together to help others in Poverty..

And then something like this happens.. Whats going on in the World.. :(

[Abednigo]

Undoubtedly this tragedy will strengthen the resolve of the world to continue to take this fight to the front doors of these madmen. Their fate is sealed.

Many prayers to the victims and their families. May God be with them and comfort them.

[bapenguin]

Prayer (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=prayer): #

1. A fervent request: Her prayer for rain was granted at last.
2. The thing requested: His safe arrival was their only prayer.

# The slightest chance or hope: In a storm the mountain climbers won't have a prayer.
# Law.

1. The request of a complainant, as stated in a complaint or in equity, that the court grant the aid or relief solicited.
2. The section of the complaint or bill that contains this request.


I hate religion as much as the next religion hater, but a prayer doesn't have to be religious...

[screwtape]

Please, don't turn this thread into a bunch of political ranting about Iraq and Bush and Blair all that.

I hope the Londoners are able to recover quickly. What a terrible tragedy.

[TrackZero]

The people that do this stuff are the lowest type of life.

Exactly. This is wanton destruction, no goals will be forwarded through acts like this.

[Evil Avatar]

If I see people trying to use this thread as a platform to shit on someone else or someone else's beliefs, then I'm just going to ban those people.

This is a tragedy, not your chance to jump up on a personal soapbox.

[zyzyx]

Fortunately I'm not in London today but I've been watching it on the news all day. It's so completely nonsensical. The main source of casualties is likely going to be the buses coming in from the Muslim dominated East London.

Must say I've been watching the news all day and the one thing that definitely hits you, the emergency services are astounding. These were victims trapped very deep underground for the most part, there is nowhere on earth like Central London in rush hour, to bring order to such chaos must have been extraordinary. There has been mild waves of panic everytime they carry out controlled explosions to detonate 'suspect packages'. London has dealt with terrorism before from the Irish Republican movement, it changed nothing.

[bumgut]

I'm a Brit that uses the tube (as it is called) all the time. Was going to go into Central London tommorow.

Let me say THERE IS NO WAY TO SECURE THE TUBE from this kind of attack. How will they screen baggage taken onto it? It's impossible. Buying screening equipment for every station is impossible: Half the escalators in the network aren't even working.

My largest worry is this will lead to a mass abandonment of the underground system in London: A catastropic effect on the London economy and its citizens.

[Abednigo]

I'm a Brit that uses the tube (as it is called) all the time. Was going to go into Central London tommorow.

Let me say THERE IS NO WAY TO SECURE THE TUBE from this kind of attack. How will they screen baggage taken onto it? It's impossible. Buying screening equipment for every station is impossible: Half the escalators in the network aren't even working.

My largest worry is this will lead to a mass abandonment of the underground system in London: A catastropic effect on the London economy and its citizens.

I'm honestly suprised something like this hasn't happened here in DC (God forbid it does). I rarely see a police officer or any kind of security guard down there on the platform.

[TRiLoGY]

I certainly care about todays events.

I live in England and travel through London from time to time. I’m very proud to be British and i'm proud of my country. I’m currently in a state of shock just as I was when 9/11 happened. Now I know this isn’t on the same scale as 9/11, but I still feel that I have been personally attacked by Terrorists because of my morals, beliefs and way of life. My thoughts and wishes are for the innocent people that have been affected by this attack. It truly Saddens me that innocent people are targeted for having the same way of life as I do.

[TRiLoGY]

So far it looks like:
33 Killed,
45 Seriously Injured,
300 Injured.

[Dracula-X]

While I generally get upset about deliberate loss of life in senseless attacks, I've a few friends out in London and the rest of the UK and I am relieved that they are ok. I am thoroughly angered about the casualties and loss of life. (I guess I'm not punk enough like a couple losers here)

[Kagger]

When I read it on my clans board 10 minutes ago (Late riser) I immeditatly said a prayer for you all. It's a horrible day with this happens, my thoughts will be with you all.

I know two guys I'm really close with who live in London, one guy hadn't heard from his mom last time I heard

[Intruder]

Guys, leave the idiots be and keep the focus where it needs. Deepest regrets and best wishes to our brothers and sisters in London.

[Blue]

Though the majority of this thread has turned into an attack of its own, just wanted to say how unnerved I am that something like this has happened again. No I don't know anyone there, but it's still frightening that people could/would come after me given how they perceive me and my way of life as being. I feel awful for everyone going through this, awful for the people of London, and I hope for a speedy recovery. And, even though sentiment might not be the same, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone, not just those directly involved.

[net7runner]

A human being, or beings, intentionally took the lives of many people. I wish that it hadn't happened. For everyone who lost a family member or friend in the explosion, I am sorry.

I am sorry that 17 people were killed in an act of negligence by my country's armed forces.

I am sorry for the people of Iraq, whose country we invaded without cause or provocation.

I am sorry for the thousands of people who die daily due to malnutrition, neglect, and easily treated disease, whose plight I can never know, having never known hunger.

I am sorry that we do these things to one another. That some of us willfully set out to harm others. That most of the rest of us lack will to see others' pain.

This is not an indictment, attack, accusation, or anything else of that nature. This is not an apology. This is an expression of sorrow. It is nothing but words, and really helps only me. Can I help these people? Probably not. I give to certain charities; hopefully that makes a difference. Can I do more? Probably. Will I be able to stir myself from my own self-interest to do so? Probably not.

And so I am sorry. And I am ashamed.

[riposte101]

My heartfelt deepest sympathy goes out to those people that were hurt. My prayers are with you.

[Rommel]

I too send my compassion and prayers to the people of the United Kingdom, which I can in fact find on a map. I would like to point out for our allies and friends, we know how strong you are. Hitler nearly leveled your great capital and it only held you together more strongly. Perhaps if the terrorists read more than one book during the course of their life they would know that. And we too will hold firm with you.

[thFOOL]

weird. didn't there used to be a bunch more posts than this?

[TrackZero]

weird. didn't there used to be a bunch more posts than this?

Heh, yeah. But buddy didn't take Evil's advice about using this as a personal soapbox, the missing posts are the results, I'm sure you can figure it out.....

[thFOOL]

I figured it was either that or something broke.

Or that I had imagined the whole thing..... :O

[Deadend]

This is horrible.

I pray for the best for the people of London, and the worst for those responsible.

[Voodoo]

I have two friends that are usually up on MSN about this time, we chat it up about what server we will be playing on in Battlefield 2 at night (Their late late night). So far neither has shown up. But I bet they are both out helping everyone because it is in both of their natures to do such.

May our British brothers continue on their stalwart journey and let the mourning of the destruction today fuel their strength to see terrorism like this become something only talked about in history books.

I apologize ahead of time for my poor english, I'm not from around here.

[Rakael]

I too would like to simply send my condolences and prayers to the victims of this attack, as well as all of the British people whos lives won't be the same for quite some time.

[Thenetcase]

I just hope that this finally gets our government and the British government stirred up enough to actually start being genuinely protective of our internal workings and so forth... There could be so much more done to protect our country. I'm VERY thankful for the precautions that have been made, but things like this make me realize that not enough have been made to make everyone feel secure. It's sad.

I am sorry these things happened today and I hope that those involved somehow come out bettered from it.

Peace.

-TNC-

[MosBen]

Yeah, never seen a post purge quite like this here. Still, perhaps it was for the best, way that was going...

[Evil Avatar]

Yeah, never seen a post purge quite like this here. Still, perhaps it was for the best, way that was going...

I doubt you will see many big edits like that one again in the future, I haven't had to do anything like that since the (Developer Name Withheld) days.

I wanted to give people who had something decent to say a chance to post without getting turned off by 120 negative posts.

No one will be permanently banned as a result of their posts.

[Rakael]

Yeah, I'd like to apologize for flaming it on by responding to them.

[CompleteRhyno]

I was at the hospital this morning when I heard about this horrendous cowardly attack. It just made my heart sink when I thought of all those people just trying to go about their daily lives and then have this happen to them. My thoughts and prayers are with those people and their families as well as the rest of UK.

[DeadPixel]

Really really sad news. I hope none of the EvilAvatar EU readers are directly affected by this. I have to make some calls for to make sure a couple of friends who live in London are ok.

[Wyrm]

I'm sorry for instigating it as well, but I just get so heated up when people try to use a tragedy as their way of projecting their negative feelings onto other people.

My deepest heart-felt sorrows for those in the UK, as I said, I was there a month ago, I road one of the very same subway stations that was hit today, and I'm shaken at the thought of it.

[snubber]

Sad news. Prayers go out to all those affected.

[01010]

You know, being in the UK and all, I can honestly say that the worst thing about this is that it appears they were suicide attacks. You can't do much about a suicide attack unfortunately.

Gallows humour has been rife today at work, got to love the British stiff upper lip.

[grammatoncleric]

This is terrible terrible news. I think everyone here at EA has their deepest sympthaties going out to the families involved despite their political point of view (which doesn't matter at a time like this).

The attack does make me wonder if this was some sort of response to London getting the Olympic games. The motivation is besides the point though, as justice will find those responsible sooner or later, whatever their demented reasoning was.

[Paltry]

good call on clearing out these posts

[XenonCJ]

Am I crazy? What happened to all the posts in this thread? Did the Censorman come a-knockin? heh



edit: ah yes now i read back a bit - makes sense I guess.

[maniac_of_noise]

I was awakened by a telephone call early this morning from my father back in the UK telling me what had happened. Thankfully my family members who were travelling through the capital at the time are all safe, but I can't begin to say how deeply saddened I am by what has happened. My condolences to everyone effected by this tragic event.

[Eon]

I was a Forces brat in BFG back in the dark days of the eighties - between the Russians and the Irish, things were kind of exciting back then. Today brought back the bad old days for me - worrying about abandoned bags, about people approaching you on the street.

Worst part of it was when two Islamic women complete with headscarves and one baby came walking past me down the street. For an instant I snarled at them - until I remembered that getting angry at women and children was the sort of thing that today's cowards did.

I won't do that. And I won't let them win.

But if they expected me to be more afraid than angry - they thought wrong.

[CapnAJ]

As usual a minority tries to ruin things for the majority.

These actions will not achieve anything, they never have, they never will.

My condolences to those effected by the events in Lodon today.

[Paltry]

theyre bastards

[zyzyx]

Well, the day's over fortunately.

I felt so proud to be British today. By about 3pm people were laughing and joking about the incident, by 4pm most of the trains and buses were running again. Blair was on his way back to work. 5pm, the stock market had recovered and was only down by 80points. By 8pm the BBC were back to their normal TV schedule. Airports never even closed and we whupped the Australians at cricket. I'm sure that to those that died today, looking down on London and seeing everyone just going home was a relief. I've heard not a single scream, not one ounce of panic, even on the videos of the tube trains. I hope there were no suicide attacks, I want whoever did this to see their failure.

[CapnAJ]

Terrorism 0 - Freedom 1

It was nice to see the Salvation Army serving the members of the emergency services cups of Tea as they went about their tough job. There's something wonderfully British about scenes like this.

[GrinR]

This (and the other attacks) make me think of Wells The Time Machine. We're sorry the morlocks took some of our Eloi, but are we going to do anything about it? Many of the (non-deleted) posts sound more like a shrug than a call to arms, at least to me.

Of course my condolences go to all the victims. As usual.

[Paltry]

Does anyone else hear the clarion call?

[Savok]

Thank you Evil. Seriously, thank you.

[Paltry]

It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the English began to hate.

They were not easily moved,
They were icy-willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the English began to hate.

Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show,
When the English began to hate.

It was not preached to the crowd,
It was not taught by the state.
No man spoke it aloud,
When the English began to hate.

It was not suddenly bred,
It will not switftly abate,
Through the chill years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the English began to hate.

- Kipling, The beginnings, 1914

[bradlay]

These actions will not achieve anything, they never have, they never will.

It's actually incredibly effective. That's why they do it. Look at the Gaza pullout. Would that have happened if it wasn't for the Munich olympics? It's disgusting but true. Mostly this will firm up the resolve of the people who think they should've never been in Iraq and the people who think the war in Iraq is the place to fight them. These groups will tear at each other like they do here, weaken the country and the terrorists have done their jobs. Look at this thread for a perfect example.

[Zeal]

Prayers go out to the families.

[MrMeatshake]

Kipling, The beginnings, 1914

wow, i do love this site. we have people quoting poetry, and not only someone going and cleaning up the thread, but people actually appreciating thier efforts, rather than getting back to the flaming. thanks Evil - i wish i hadn't got involved in the flaming, good call getting rid of it all.

i totally agree with zyzyx - its so heartening the way that we managed to pick ourselves up and get on with things, while maintaining a sense of the seriousness and sombreness of the day. talking to my barber this morning, it really is shocking how close to home this is for every person in britain, but of course that's what the terrorists are after. we should try our hardest to go about our business, or they'll get what they were after.

[KamaItachi]

I was talking to my family back home (none in London, but my brother was set to travel over for a business trip this weekend) and honestly I find it quite funny how, no sooner had the bombs gone off than people were claiming "see how Britain quakes in terror and fear!"

Sure fellas, just like the 30 odd year bombing campaign the IRA had in Britain brought the nation to its knees.

Oh no, wait.....

[CapnAJ]

It's actually incredibly effective. That's why they do it. Look at the Gaza pullout. Would that have happened if it wasn't for the Munich olympics? It's disgusting but true. Mostly this will firm up the resolve of the people who think they should've never been in Iraq and the people who think the war in Iraq is the place to fight them. These groups will tear at each other like they do here, weaken the country and the terrorists have done their jobs. Look at this thread for a perfect example.

Britain has been through a lot of terrorism and it did nothing but strengthen our resolve. We were bombed a lot by the IRA, all due to their insane beliefs. I used to live near an Army base when I was a kid and I saw the results of one of the IRA's bombs, a Sgt being pulled out of his car my paramedics after he'd been severly injured because of a car bomb.

Years have gone by and we aren't being attacked and the IRA is gradually losing its support.

[01010]

The IRA beliefs weren't particularly insane, I suggest you do some more research, however their methods were not the way to go about it. It did however give them a political foothold with Sinn Fein so I do think that ultimately they have gotten some gains from it.

As for this bombing, shit happens and life goes on, you can't be scared because to be honest, when it's your time, it's your time. I'm off to london next thursday and I'm far more worried about getting mugged in Brixton than any form of terrorism.

Also, someone said above how they were saying how Britain "quakes in fear" being bullshit, I whole heartedly agree, I haven't met anyone that's the slightest bit phased by this. In fact the bad taste jokes are out already in force.

"The french must REALLY have wanted the Olympics"

[CapnAJ]

The IRA beliefs weren't particularly insane, I suggest you do some more research, however their methods were not the way to go about it. It did however give them a political foothold with Sinn Fein so I do think that ultimately they have gotten some gains from it.

I would say that the belief that Northern Ireland could ever be free by bombing people into doing as they please as 'insane', but hey I've known to be wrong about his stuff.

A simplified look at N.Ireland is that of two groups of people, one wants Britain to remain in control and the other wants them out. Not an easy start, but workable. Throw into the mix people who think that killing and maiming will achieve this goal and then things become needlessly complicated.

Britain would happily talk about N.Irelands future, but not when it is being held to ransome with terrorism. Which thankfully is all but over and genuine people are stepping up to discuss this challenging future for N.Ireland.

[Savok]

Oddly enough, everyone I've talked to, their first thought on hearing about the bombing that the French did it. Seriously, they didn't really think it was them, but the first suspect that popped in there was France.

[Paltry]

hahhahaha
mad about the whole eu thing i suppose

[zyzyx]

Yeah, I heard the "It was the French!" theory/joke many a time too.

For those not aware London beat Paris to host the 2012 olympics the previous day and Chirac made some rude remarks about British food a few days prior to that, plus there were the arguments over the Common Agricultural Policy and British EU Rebate.

[Heretic Machine]

Also, someone said above how they were saying how Britain "quakes in fear" being bullshit, I whole heartedly agree, I haven't met anyone that's the slightest bit phased by this. In fact the bad taste jokes are out already in force.

Americans like to overdramatize events like this to the point that you'd think we were in WWIII and Cyborg Hitler just climbed out of a bunker in Berlin. I mean sure, it's bad, but as you've said life goes on.

By the way, you all have it wrong. It wasn't the French... it was the French-Canadians!

[Paltry]

COME ON PERIGON! Its Cyborg Osama... from China, at least thats what theyre saying on Fox.

[GrinR]

"Liquidize105: Remember, we must hate the act itself, but not the people involved."

Just for the record, what the hell does this mean?

[Wyrm]

Yeah, I'm curious as to what you mean by that also.

[Paltry]

prolly letting out some steam against muslim folk, cant say i really blame him though...

great times we live in eh?

[Paltry]

http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/001770.html#more

best thing ive read regarding the attacks

[MrMeatshake]

very amusing, Fandango - bit right-wing for me, but:

Anyway, I read the statement from the easily-remembered SOGAQJOE and noted that among its claims, apparently “Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern and western quarters”.

Once again, wrong. Speak to my Mum. She lives in the “western quarters” and she was so “burning with fear” that she knew fuck-all about it when I rang.

true... and:

As you may know, Al has moved into the village here and his will be one of the homes that Robbie and I visit tonight in order to orchestrate the inauguration of the All Cannings Defence Corps.

You will have noticed that the ACDC is already a notch up on the SOGAQJOE when it comes to superior acronyms. We also have an air-gun. A .177. So nobody better come around here leaving their sarnies in a paper bag on the Wiggly Bus, or we’ll take their eye out.

very dad's army, and finally:

But the best coverage was kicked off by that guff from the Mayor of France with his “maintenant, je suis il Londoner ici” nonsense. No you are not. WE are; you lost, remember?

[Paltry]

yea it is pretty right wing

glad u liked it though