</font>[/QUOTE]It's still sketchy, I've heard of 4, 6, 7 and 11 explosions on our national news.

I wasn't happy about it, I'm half expecting them to demolish my flat for the extra train lines :mad: but that's not for this thread.

Just checking in to let people who know me know that I'm ok, couldn't get into work so am at home watching the news. </font>[/QUOTE]Glad to hear that Laura. (The second para not the first! ;) )

I should point out that whilst this does fit the bill of being Islamic terrorists that doesn't necessarily mean that its Al-Queda. There are a variety of different nutcase organisations who could have wanted to blow up London and disrupt the G8 - Islamic terrorists are no more one monolithic bloc than us white guys are. Also, the fact that they've claimed responsibility for it doesn't necessarily mean it was them as they're in a no lose situation by claiming responsibility. I would expect a large number of equally horrendouse groups will claim responsibility for the bombings, and the fact that Al-Queda will be the most famous of them does not make it certain they are the ones telling the truth.#

And don't let the little "Location" entry below fool you - I just haven't updated it since I left London last year. I don't live there anymore, and I'm quite safe from terrorists up here in York. The last people to attack this place were the Vikings, and no ones been back since as far as I'm aware. My sympathies to those who still live in London. Any news from Epona?

Never mind, there she is!

For once I agree 100% Davros.

I'm glad that so many london IWers have checked in and are fine, my heart and prayers go out to the dead and injured (I hope the count of dead doesn't rise significantly before this mess is finished).

Glad to hear you are OK Laura.

Absolutely correct, however many of them will claim affiliation with Al Qaeda (or are connected in some way, even trivial and minor like having once worked the kitchen where Al Qaeda agent X234 ate) and use that connection to claim an Al Qaeda connection for name recognition alone.

One of my co-workers received a call just after nine this morning from her boyfriend to say that the bus beside him had blown up. She has just seen a picture of the bus on the internet and his car is literally alongside it.

Donut

[ 07-07-2005, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: Lanesra ]

<font color="cyan">

Ok, the following is according to BBC news 24 (ON TV). I know there is a lot of shit flying about, but the BBC are based in London, and are probably more accurate than any other source at the momemnt.

A previously unknown sub-division of Al-Q have claimed responsibility in a 200 word document.

I cant remember their name, but it was something like Al-Q Liberators Of Europe. The name (whatever it was), has never been mentioned before.

There are 185 casualties so far, 8 critical, and 2 dead. Injuries ranging from light burns to lost limbs.

Now the interesting bit. In the letter, they made no mention of G8 or the Olympics. The reason the attack was made, according to the BBC and the letter, was due to Britains involvement in Iraq. The letter stated that the Islamic nations had gained revenge for our involvement.

The sub section of Al-Q also warned that Italy and Denmark face serious reprocussions for their involvement (but to be honest, I didn't know either were involved...especially Denmark.

Hope I've shed some light, but it's all just come of the BBC news channel now.

And me and Donut aren't fighting, its just a serious time for us British who are worried about family. Its all ok between us, or at least as far as I'm concerned. I just said some things that were (looking back) a bit far fetched.

Edit - According to the BBC, there were 7 explosions. I think it said 6 on the Underground, 1 on the Double Decker.</font>

[ 07-07-2005, 09:18 AM: Message edited by: Lavindathar ]

This is horrible stuff... and very upsetting for everyone, especially those of you who live there. :(

I can't tell you how relieved I am to see all you Londoner's post here... I was shocked and worried when my husband called me at work to tell me about the bombings this morning.

I hope those who were injured will be alright and will say a few prayers for those who died and their families.

It's horrid, no matter who did it. Extremists filled with hate...it's so unecessary and so sad. :(

Like who, how many organisations are this co-ordinated? Eta, the IRA maybe.




I sooo didn't understand this statement. Islamic terrorists and white people people are the same...subsequently all white guys are terrorists? Islamic whites exist, probably islamic white terrorists too, I'm sure of that. But I don't get quite what you're saying.



What large number? Please name a few with this M.O.

Barry I right like you as a bloke, I know you're a very smart guy and maybe I'm just not as clued up as you, but your post baffled me.

News from ITV that bomb experts have entered Edgeware Road station to carry out a controlled explosion on an unexploded device.

OK, I am speechless about this, I have 3000 thoughts running through my head, and none of them coherent, not sure how much is due to shock, and how much is due to migraines, probably a mixture of both. Good to see our Londoners check in, and I'm going to leave it at that, my thoughts to your families/friends.

Like who, how many organisations are this co-ordinated? Eta, the IRA maybe.

Quote:

- Islamic terrorists are no more one monolithic bloc than us white guys are.

I sooo didn't understand this statement. Islamic terrorists and white people people are the same...subsequently all white guys are terrorists? Islamic whites exist, probably islamic white terrorists too, I'm sure of that. But I don't get quite what you're saying.
</font>[/QUOTE]Take a look at the civil rights movement here in the states(it's still going on btw), blacks blame "the white man", "the man", or "whitey" for their problems as though white men are a monolithic group whose sole goal is the subjegation of other ethnicities, as for white islamic terrorists, look at the Chechen seperatists, and I can name at least a half dozen independent ones off the top of my head that are white converts who've been arrested for assisting terrorism.

Quote:

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />I would expect a large number of equally horrendouse groups will claim responsibility for the bombings,

What large number? Please name a few with this M.O.

Barry I right like you as a bloke, I know you're a very smart guy and maybe I'm just not as clued up as you, but your post baffled me. </font>[/QUOTE]I think both of you are thinking the same thing in different ways, and getting your wires crossed when trying to see how they interact.

[ 07-07-2005, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

Sky News now reports a number of 45 deaths.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...188265,00.html

[ 07-07-2005, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

Monolithic Block really threw me out, couldn't work out quite what was being said there, cheers for clearing it up a bit.

Heh, no prob, I just think there are larger issues here than quarreling over misinterpretting what someone said.

My point, and you're right that maybe its not expressed clearly, is that it could be offensive to claim that because it looks like an Islamic terrorist group it has to be Al Queda. It's like saying that there is only one representative of extreme Islamic politics, which then has a pretty dodgy conotation for the rest of Islamic politics as a whole.

Its actually quite good that you raise the issue of the IRA, as we all know that there are many different splinter organisations and extremist groups involved in the Irish Republican movement. When terrorist attacks occur because of this issue we don't immediately jump to assuming it was the IRA itself, as it could have been the Real IRA, the Unreal IRA, the I Can't Believe It's Not the IRA, etc... Yet when its an Islamic group we treat the issue very differently and just lump them all in together. Its about as close to simply calling them the International Towelhead Alliance as we can innocently get.

Please be aware I'm not trying to stick up for ther terrorists here, just trying to show how we treat the issue differently and what the consequences of that are.

Dang, thats horrible, that news, I woke up this morning and my mom told me about the attacks, just so you know, my family's hopes and prayers are with you brave Londoners.

Good point Barry, and well made, however as I said earlier many groups with no formal or even informal affiliation with Al Qaeda claim affiliation during events like these simply for name recognition.

[ 07-07-2005, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

Correct we shouldn't jump to conclusions and I'm pretty pissed off right now, but for me it's got Al Qaeda written all over it.

I just heard it's a previously unknown group, (rather I should say an unknown group has claimed responsobility.) I bet somewhere along the line there'll be an AQ link, pieces of shit whoever they are.

[ 07-07-2005, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

Dont have time to read the whole thread, as I'm on my break, but I caught this story this morning while I was getting ready for work this morning, and wanted to send all of my heartfelt best wishes to all of our London IWers.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I'm glad to see that several of our Londoners have checked in. Glad to hear that you folks are ok! [img]smile.gif[/img] *HUG*

[ 07-07-2005, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: Nachtrafe ]

Emergency casualty number

0870 1566 344

Donut

[ 07-07-2005, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Lanesra ]

Have all the London IW'ers been accounted for?

No group has claimed responsobility.
I think the group I previously mentioned may be involved with the Egyptian envoy and I misunderstood.

Just wanted to add that I'm glad to know our UK members are doing OK, and I hope everyone's family and friends are also safe. It's been all over the news here, including local news, and I'm still listening to it via TV radio. I really hope the casualties turn out to be at a low number. :(

WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department has set up an emergency telephone line for people to call if any Americans were injured or missing in the series of explosions in London on Thursday.
People with information should call

1-888-407-4747.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161775,00.html

CAIRO, Egypt — A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of Al Qaeda in Europe" has posted a claim of responsibility for the series of blasts in London, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

21 people confirmed dead at kings x
5 people confirmed dead at edgeware rd

There are confirmed fatalities on the bus, numbers unknown

That's the group I mentioned prior. It was reported on ITV here quite a while back. An ongoing press conference has stated in the last few minutes that no group has claimed responsibility so I've no idea quite what's going on there.

[ 07-07-2005, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

re charlie:

*nodnod* A poster had mentioned after your post that no group had claimed responsibility. I think it's entirely possible that in the chaos I imagine must be going on the people doing the press conference may not know, or are unwilling to give credit to the group until investigations have revealed it one way or the other.

Sorry, missed your post mentioning this.

Yeah Morguerat, the press releases are somewhat inconsistent but they're currently giving the "official" press release on tv.

NY Times:

July 7, 2005
Responsibility Claim Is Posted on Militant Site
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:05 a.m. ET

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- A group calling itself ''The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe'' posted a claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts in London, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The authenticity of the message could not be immediately confirmed.

The statement, which also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark, was published on a Web site popular with Islamic militants, according to Elaph, a secular Arabic-language news Web site, and Der Spiegel magazine in Berlin, which published the text on their Web sites.

''Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan,'' said the statement, translated by The Associated Press in Cairo. The AP was unable to access the Web site where it was posted, which was closed quickly after the reports.

The group al-Qaida in Europe claimed responsibility for the last major terror attack in Europe: a string of bombs that hit commuter trains in Madrid, Spain in March 2004, killing 191 people. Two days after that attack, a video was found in a trash can outside a Madrid mosque with a statement purported to be from the group's spokesman, called by the nickname ''Abu Dujan al Afghani.''

In the new statement, the group said ''the heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west.''

''We warned the British government and the British people repeatedly. We have carried out our promise and carried out a military attack in Britain after great efforts by the heroic mujahedeen over a long period to ensure its success.''

''We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all crusader governments that they will receive the same punishment if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan,'' the statement went on.

It was signed ''The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe.''

<font color="cyan">I've finally got ahold of my family down there, spoke to my cousin.

She has spoken to her Dad, and him and her brother are both fine!

They both passed through Edgeware and Kings X this morning, but left around 6.45am so they missed it!

I'm quite relieved! Hope everyone else on IW's is ok!</font>

The Union Jack over Buckingham Palace is flying at half mast.

A section of The mayor of London, Ken Livingstones speech after the bombings.

Addressing the perpetrators directly, Mr Livingstone said: “I know that you do fear you may fail in your long term objective: to destroy our free society. And I will show you why you will fail.

”In the days that follow, look at our airports, look at our seaports and look at our railways. Nothing you do, however many of us you kill will stop that life ... where freedom is strong and people can live in harmony ... whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.

At least 33 dead according to BBC News. Glad to see all IWers are OK. It does seem like it's Al Queda, interestingly enough BBC News is just talking about the Olympics now. I think they are dismissing it though.

I'd have to say it looks like Al Queda.

Edit: The 33 dead are from the 3 trains, the police are not confirming the number dead from the bus attack.

[ 07-07-2005, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: RoSs_bg2_rox ]

I was very encouraged by the mayor and prime minister's speeches.

[ 07-07-2005, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Szass-Tam ]

While THANKFULLY it appears that the counts of those injured and killed are much lower, I am sure that for those in England, today's attacks feel like 9/11 did for us in the US.

Knowing how that felt, and the feelings of numbness, anger and disbelief that you will probably be going through in the next few weeks (or longer) I offer my support to you and your fellow countrymen. Although there is not much I can do, I'm always here with a sympathetic ear if you need!

*hugs to you all*

Geez, I heard about this at work, If feel terribly sad for the victims and pray to God for all IWers in London and their families... and I'm also so incredibly angry, like I always do when this happens, but no way to went it, those bastards, actually having the guts to call it a military attack... it's nothing but a cowardly act of stupidity. And perfectly stupid timing and location too, isn't Tony Blair the mainsupporter in the G8 summit for relieving the third world nation of their debts... hey lets bomb his hometown... that ought to give him a little encouragement...

Evil cowards... :(

[ 07-07-2005, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]