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London Bombings News Roundup
London Bombings News Roundup
People trapped in the
London Underground. Image from moblog.co.uk
ABC Reports Officials Announce UnExploded Bombs and Timers Discovered
In what appears to be the first major break in the London terrorist attacks, U.S. authorities tell ABC News that police in London have recovered key parts of the timing devices that set off the bombs, suggesting they were planted in packages or bags and left behind.
There also are reports that police may have discovered two unexploded bombs as they sifted through the wreckage of the four bombs that did go off. At least several dozen people were killed in the attacks, and hundreds of others were injured while traveling on subways and a double-decker bus. Scotland Yard has denied finding undetonated explosive devices in the wreckage.
The bomb parts and timing mechanisms should provide important evidence that could help determine who was behind the attacks, sources told ABC News.
Officials now believe that all the bombs were detonated by timing devices. Earlier today, British investigators had believed that the bomb on the bus was the work of a suicide bomber, sources said.
See… ABC News.
The Guardian reports that intelligence officials were braced for an offensive - but lowered threat levels.
A group of
terrorists, affiliated or inspired by al-Qaida, carried out
the series of coordinated bomb attacks in London,
intelligence officials and independent analysts said
yesterday.
A group calling itself the Secret Organisation
of the al-Qaida Jihad in Europe posted a claim of
responsibility for the attacks, saying they were in
retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
See… The Guardian.
Scoop.co.nz and AP reports that Israel's Netanyahu Changed Plans Due to Warning.
"British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes before Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of possible terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said.
Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to attend an economic conference in a hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred, and the warning prompted him to stay in his hotel room instead, government officials said.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any Israeli casualties.
Just before the blasts, Scotland Yard called the security officer at the Israeli Embassy to say they had received warnings of possible attacks, the official said. He did not say whether British police made any link to the economic conference.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of his position. "
See… Associated Press. and Scoop.co.nz
The Independent reports from the Piccadilly Line:
There was a blinding red flash and the lights blacked out. Within seconds, passengers on the packed Piccadilly Line Tube heading south from King's Cross to Russell Square were choking in thick, black smoke.
It was 8.56am. Twenty-one passengers were dead or dying.
Evelyne Wade was in the carriage next to where she believed the bomb went off. Trembling and ashen-faced, she was amazed she had survived.
"We heard a big blast. The lights went out, and I thought I was going to die. Everyone was saying it was a fire and I thought we weren't going to get out alive," she said.
See… The Independent.
Passengers evacuate an underground train at Kings Cross - Photo sent in to BBC by Alexander Chadwick
The BBC reports that a "massive intelligence hunt" is on for the bombers:
A massive intelligence investigation is under way to find those responsible for the bomb attacks in London which killed at least 37 and left 700 injured.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Thursday's attacks bore all the hallmarks of the al-Qaeda network.
The Queen will visit some casualties in hospital while Tony Blair prepares for the last day of the G8 summit.
See… The BBC.
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