The Metropolitan Police just confirmed six explosions this morning. This is being treated as a major incident and police have have asked that people do not use the telephone service, and use broadcast media to keep abreast of the situation.

11:37

Police advice is that all London Transport has been disabled as a precautionary measure so people should stay put and only call the emergency services if their life is in danger.

All hospitals have put their rapid call-out emergency plans into action. All routine surgery has been cancelled. Non critical beds are cleared and out-patient activity is suspended.

11:46

Police join speculation that it could have been a coordinated attack. Two confirmed fatalities. Many of the walking wounded have laceration injuries. More seriously injured people are only now, three hours later, being removed from Kings Cross Station – i.e those closest to the blast.

11:50

The BBC are broadcasting live images which just included very clear shots of a badly charred bloke getting CPR on an ambulance gurney.

12:02

Police just said there have been 7 blasts, Tony Blair confirms attacks are terrorist led.

15:30

The Met police now believe there were four explosions this morning, and that there are strong similarities with the Madrid train bomb. There were no warnings, and the Police Service has received no claims of responsibility.

• In the first incident, between Liverpool Street and Aldgate underground stations there are 7 confirmed fatalities.
• In the second incident at Kings Cross underground station there are 21 confirmed fatalities
• At Edgeware Road underground station – it appears 3 trains were involved because the incident occurred in the station – there are 5 confirmed fatalities
• At the fourth incident, on a bus in Tavistock Place, the number of fatalities cannot be confirmed, it is likely to be high because reports suggest that the device was carried by a suicide bomber on the upper deck of a packed double-decker bus.

Injuries treated include burns, amputations, chest and blast injuries, fractured limbs, and minor injuries laceration, smoke inhalation, shock, cuts and bruises.
Critical patients were stabilized at the scene. Minor injuries were treated at the scene and where necessary transferred to hospital. 100 ambulance vehicles and 250 ambulance staff attended. 40 fire engines and 200 fire fighters and officers attended, this includes rescue units and special appliances such for cutting and jacking extremely heavy objects.

Members of the public are being asked to only dial 999 if their life is threatened, and also (if possible) to avoid visiting Accident and Emergency services at London hospitals to enable the staff to focus on those injured in the explosions.

London now turns to the journey home; the timing of the attacks means many people were nearing the end of their daily commute, so they are likely to be stranded in the capital.

15:37

More than 33 fatalities are now confirmed.
There is no indication that anything other than conventional explosive was used.

16:28

The Fire Service has confirmed that all rescues that can be carried out have now been completed. Locations are now scenes of crime and handed over the the Police Service. The Royal London hospital has treated more than 200 patients today, of which 6 are still in a critical condition.

16:51

London ambulance service say they know of 45 patients that are still in a critical condition.

July 8 2005 – 10:15 – (+25 hours)
The Chief Superintendent of London Transport Police was just interviewed on the BBC. He confirmed that at 5am today, the Kings Cross main line (national rail) reopened opened, and that underground trains now travelling through Kings Cross, but not stopping. A fingertip search of the crime scene is underway to ensure any evidence that can be gathered to ensure a prosecution is not missed. He also confirmed that bodies are still being recovered from Kings Cross and that the number of fatalities is not expected to rise beyond 21.

News is also filtering through that at least three of the bombs (the ones on the trains) were detonated by Timing Power Units (TPU’s) so it is possible that the bombers are still at large – if they weren’t all killed in the bus bomb.

July 8 2005 – 15:43
Latest confirmed fatality count is 51.

The majority of people who work in London live on the outskirts, or further afield, and commute into the city. Those that can have worked from home or have taken today off. The majority of people however, have returned to work. They’ve been using the overground, the busses, and the underground as normal.

Stories of heroism, determination and compassion are everywhere. This morning the BBC told the story of an old lady who kept her afternoon dance appointment as usual; having survived far worse in the blitz she wasn’t going to let a few selfish terrorists stop her from enjoying her freedom. Marks and Spencer distributed sandwiches, fruit, water, blankets and clothing to the emergency services and victims; you can’t buy that kind of good will.