Bombing Attack Rocks London, Death Toll Estimated At Over 40

July 07, 05 by Edahn Golan

In what looks like a third major attack on a major western city in four years, London was the scene of at least six separate explosions today. The bombs exploded on public transport injuring hundreds, with at least 40 deaths estimated. The city’s underground has been closed down. A group called the Secret Organization Group of al Qaeda of Jihad in Europe took responsibility.

The first explosion took place on an underground train after nine o’clock this morning, followed by two more a short time later at another underground station and on a bus.

At 11:30 London time the police said that there had been as many as six explosions and one charge that did not go off.

Reaction in the financial markets was swift with oil prices dropping six percent and stock exchanges in Europe dropping 3 – 4 percent. The IDEX Diamond Prices index rose 0.07 point to 109.07 after the news broke. The London stock exchange was evacuated.

De Beers is scheduled to hold its Sight in the city next Monday. Currently it is not known if the events will cause the diamond firm to postpone the Sight or make any other change in plans.

Londoners are reporting that people are staying indoors and avoiding going outside.

On September 11, 2001 New York and Washington, DC were attacked and on March 11, 2004 Madrid commuter trains were attacked. This is leading to suspicion that the London attacks, which also display a careful and coordinated effort on the part of the attackers, were carried out by al Qaeda.

London, it was announced yesterday, will host the 2012 Olympics and is currently hosting the G8 meeting in Scotland.

(Last updated July 7, 2005 10:17)

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Bombing Attack Rocks London, Death Toll Estimated At Over 40

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