London attacked

LATEST: From Sky News
2 . 30pm:

45 DEAD
300 + INJURED

This is looking much worse than it did earlier!

Explosions in London. Six blasts have been reported, starting at about 8 - 50 this morning. 'Terrible injuries' confirmed and although no deaths have been reported yet it is clear that there have been fatalities. I have just got through to my step-son, who is working at Imperial College, and confirmed that he is safe and well.

The number of casualties seems to be in excess of 200 from what I can tell. There are many 'walking wounded' amongst them.

My initial, gut feeling, is that this is not the work of Islamists. But who knows at this stage? This is not the first time London has been on the receiving end of a bombing campaign. I remember hearing bombs going off when I lived in London in the seventies. It was the IRA then.

2 dead at Aldgate East just reported - 11 . 32 am But reports are saying there were very few survivors from the upper deck of the bus that was attacked, a bus apparently packed with tourists.

Arab sources monitoring Al Qaeda have told the BBC security correspondent that the explosions are 'almost certainly' the work of Al Qaeda - reported 11 . 34

Now there's a bloody 'expert' on the TV. 'They could be suicide bombers', he reckons. Mmm, I would have thought there would be six dead terrorists in that case, no? 'It matches the MO of Al Qaeda', he reckons. But not any other terror group?! The truth is that it may well be Al Queda or a related group but this 'expert' (quick definition: EX= a has been, SPURT= a drip under pressure) hasn't got any better idea than the man in the moon at this moment.

Blair is making a statement now on TV - 12 - 04 pm. He is going to travel to London later today. He says the terrorists will never win. But tell that to Gerry Adams MP and Martin McGuiness MP

I've turned the TV off. There is no real news coming through so we will be subjected to hours of speculation, interviews with more 'experts on terror' and re-runs of events. The last thing I heard was a discussion about how the bombs were concealed bags, rucksacks, hatbox....Jesus!...What happened to the suicide bomber theory?

I'll wait until there is some concrete information, which probably will not filter through until this evening or tomorrow.

UPDATE: 1 .47 pm - According to Yahoo News:

In the confusion, the human toll of the blasts was unclear, with reports suggesting that dozens of people may have been killed and maimed. CNN reported that at least 10 people were confirmed dead at King's Cross station.

As yet the BBC site remains the same as earlier with 2 deaths reported.

LATEST: From Sky News
2 . 30pm:

45 DEAD
300 + INJURED

This is looking much worse than it did earlier!

UPDATE: 'The Secret Group of Al-Qaeda's Jihad in Europe' has 'claimed responsibility' for the outrage.

Norm points out this disgusting piece by Chris Bambery at Socialist Worker . And they've got the nerve to put a copyright notice on it !! I've deliberately left the link out, you can find it at Normblog.

Galloway made a similiar statement but he did at least condemn the bombers. Interesting that both Galloway and Bambery immediately assumed the attacks were connected to Al Queda rather than, say, an anti-globalisation or anti-G8 organisation.

Socialist Worker statement following London bombings

Our thoughts are with all those killed and wounded in this morning’s terrible attacks in London.

London is a centre of peace, the most multiracial city in Europe and a global centre of opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. A majority of those killed and wounded will have opposed the war in Iraq; some will have joined the huge marches for peace.

These bombings followed the biggest ever protest in Scotland’s history against world poverty. The anti-war message was everywhere on that magnificent march.

These bombings target ordinary people travelling by bus and underground to work and study; people who oppose Tony Blair’s support for George Bush and their occupation of Iraq. They are in no way a blow against imperialism or the G8 leaders, who are ensconced in a luxury hotel 450 miles north of London.

The British government cannot avoid its responsibility for these terrible attacks, which are a consequence of its support for war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan. The best way to ensure that there are no more such terrible attacks is for British troops to be withdrawn from there immediately. (emphasis mine)

As a mark of respect for the dead we have cancelled the opening day of our Marxism 2005 event. We call on the international anti-war movement and the global left to rally round the people of London and, in the face of these terrible attacks, to redouble their work for global peace and justice.

Chris Bambery, editor Socialist WorkerMartin Smith, National Organiser, Socialist Workers Party

© Copyright Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original and leave this notice in place.

Not a single word of condemnation!

Chris Bambery

YOU ARE A DESPICABLE CUNT