luvdance
07-07-2005, 10:01 PM
BLOOD-smattered and crying, thousands of people staggered into the streets of London overnight after a wave of explosions on tube trains and a bus left more than 37 people dead and over 700 injured.
The terror and tragedy replaced the excitement that erupted across the capital the previous day after it was named the host of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the attacks were carried out by terrorists to coincide with the Group of Eight (G8) summit under way in Gleneagles, Scotland.
Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene of the blasts on three trains running between underground stations in central London and on a bus in the morning rush hour that left body parts strewn across the street and over underground tracks.
Ayobami Bello, 46, a security guard at the nearby London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine, described seeing lifeless bodies lying in the street after one blast tore the roof off the double-decker bus near Russell Square.
"It was terrible. The bus went to pieces. There were so many bodies on the floor," said Bello.
"The back was completely gone, it was blown off completely and a dead body was hanging out and there were dead bodies on the road, it was a horrible thing."
Mr Bello said other bodies sat slumped in their bus seats, some with arms and legs missing.
"I can't believe it, I can't even believe I survived it," he said.
"There was panic and everyone was running for their lives. I saw a lady coming towards me soaked in blood. Everyone was in confusion."
London's bus routes were suspended along with the entire underground network after the coordinated strike.
Several shops closed for the day and people were seen wandering around roads that were eerily quiet due to a lack of cars and buses, while police cordoned off the blast sites and tried to investigate the cause.
Police said 37 people had been killed in three of the blasts, and an unknown number killed in the fourth incident.
Raj Mattoo, 35, said he saw the bus as the blast ripped through it.
"The roof flew off and went up about 10 metres. It then floated back down," Mr Mattoo said. "There were obviously people badly injured. A parking attendant said he thought a piece of human flesh had landed on his arm."
Earlier, the sound of sirens filled the air as emergency staff rushed the injured, some suffering terrible lacerations and burns, to nearby hospitals.
Police superintendent Jon Morgan said a number of people were killed at Edgware Road station, where an explosion ripped through a train coming into the station, which also affected another train going in the opposite direction.
Similar attacks occurred on a train between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street stations and a third between Russell Square and King's Cross stations.
"There was a loud bang and the train ground to a halt. People started panicking, screaming and crying as smoke came into the carriage," said Arash Kazerouni, 22, who had been travelling from Liverpool Street.
"A man told everyone to be calm and we were led to safety along the track."
The entire London underground network has been suspended for the day and stations evacuated including one in Stratford, which will be a key transport link for the site of the Olympic Games.
Commuters, visibly shaken and some covered in black soot, emerged from stations, recounting tales of horror when the blasts shook their trains.
"There was a fire beside me. I saw flames outside on the window of my carriage," Sarah Reid said tearfully as she was led away down the tracks to Aldgate station, "I saw bodies. I think some people may have died."
City council officials advised children to remain at school after the attacks and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said people should remain where they are.
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so what are your thoughts??
The terror and tragedy replaced the excitement that erupted across the capital the previous day after it was named the host of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the attacks were carried out by terrorists to coincide with the Group of Eight (G8) summit under way in Gleneagles, Scotland.
Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene of the blasts on three trains running between underground stations in central London and on a bus in the morning rush hour that left body parts strewn across the street and over underground tracks.
Ayobami Bello, 46, a security guard at the nearby London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine, described seeing lifeless bodies lying in the street after one blast tore the roof off the double-decker bus near Russell Square.
"It was terrible. The bus went to pieces. There were so many bodies on the floor," said Bello.
"The back was completely gone, it was blown off completely and a dead body was hanging out and there were dead bodies on the road, it was a horrible thing."
Mr Bello said other bodies sat slumped in their bus seats, some with arms and legs missing.
"I can't believe it, I can't even believe I survived it," he said.
"There was panic and everyone was running for their lives. I saw a lady coming towards me soaked in blood. Everyone was in confusion."
London's bus routes were suspended along with the entire underground network after the coordinated strike.
Several shops closed for the day and people were seen wandering around roads that were eerily quiet due to a lack of cars and buses, while police cordoned off the blast sites and tried to investigate the cause.
Police said 37 people had been killed in three of the blasts, and an unknown number killed in the fourth incident.
Raj Mattoo, 35, said he saw the bus as the blast ripped through it.
"The roof flew off and went up about 10 metres. It then floated back down," Mr Mattoo said. "There were obviously people badly injured. A parking attendant said he thought a piece of human flesh had landed on his arm."
Earlier, the sound of sirens filled the air as emergency staff rushed the injured, some suffering terrible lacerations and burns, to nearby hospitals.
Police superintendent Jon Morgan said a number of people were killed at Edgware Road station, where an explosion ripped through a train coming into the station, which also affected another train going in the opposite direction.
Similar attacks occurred on a train between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street stations and a third between Russell Square and King's Cross stations.
"There was a loud bang and the train ground to a halt. People started panicking, screaming and crying as smoke came into the carriage," said Arash Kazerouni, 22, who had been travelling from Liverpool Street.
"A man told everyone to be calm and we were led to safety along the track."
The entire London underground network has been suspended for the day and stations evacuated including one in Stratford, which will be a key transport link for the site of the Olympic Games.
Commuters, visibly shaken and some covered in black soot, emerged from stations, recounting tales of horror when the blasts shook their trains.
"There was a fire beside me. I saw flames outside on the window of my carriage," Sarah Reid said tearfully as she was led away down the tracks to Aldgate station, "I saw bodies. I think some people may have died."
City council officials advised children to remain at school after the attacks and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said people should remain where they are.
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so what are your thoughts??