LONDON BLASTS

British Intelligence had all along predicted attacks on the London Underground system were inevitable and it was just a matter of time before it came true. Thursday July 7th, 2005, four suicide bombers struck in central London killing 52 people and injuring 700, statistics which being fully aware of the impact of the blasts, makes me think.. are there more undisclosed casualties involved?

The co-ordinated attacks hit the transport system as the morning rush hour was at its hilt. I was on my way to work and for some reason from early morning, felt like callin in sick n takin it easy, just lazing around at home n not going to work. Yet I dragged myself out of the house only to discover for some reason the Northern line (underground) I use was suspended. Banishing off the thought i’d been better off listening to my gut n stayin at home, not having another option called in at work to inform would be late. After waiting for 30 mins, battled my way into a sardine packed bus, (the driver of which I guess took pity on me n the 3 old ladies I was standin with, waving our hands frantically at the big red double-decker.. n took us in) Under those squeezed circumstances too I had no idea what lay ahead n I happily got off the bus n boarded the overland British rail to get to waterloo to proceed with my journey from there, oblivious of what was to follow. All thru this journey announcements like “Due to signal failure dah dah dah.. so n so lines with the underground are suspended..etc..” Nowhere did the announcement say it was something serious. I guess it was engineered to avoid panic.

I reached waterloo n that’s when the chaos hit me, n boy it did, good n proper. Police vans whizzing past crazily, ambulances, sirens, people cryin on cell phones, panic, turmoil n all buses n routes blocked, closed n transport suspended. On enquiring I was told there had been bomb blasts on the underground n the entire underground system was slowly shutting down n would be closed completely. Since it was only 9.20 I thought of walking the distance and going via Russell Square to my workplace but not being safe, decided against it. Called work, took the same overland home and was glued to BBC for the next 8 hours - All my life longest I’ve ever ever been glued to a news channel.

Seeing the sights made me queasy that the attacks struck the Capital in Central London, the heart of the city, moreso that close to my work place. It was estimated, three bombs went off at 0850 am on underground trains, trains between King's Cross and Russell Square, Liverpool Street station to Aldgate and one on the train that had just left Edgware Road station heading west for Paddington.
The final explosion was around an hour later on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, not far from King's Cross. (The bomb having being placed on a seat or the floor at the back of the upper deck). Fortunately (for those who didn’t get on the bus) and unfortunately (for those who did) it was diverted from its normal route because of road closures in the wake of the tube bombings around an hour earlier n exploded here at Tavistock Sq. close to Russell Square, just behind the place of my work.
The surprising part was all the 4 suicide bombers were identified as British born, some of which were as young as 18!

One may not even begin to imagine the sights the commuters caught unaware on this day and in these affected tube, bus carriages would have experienced, the way they would have felt. Barring accounts of depilated carriage(s), accounts of people lying on the floor, many with lot of blood on their faces, bodies, ripped clothes n above all panic n fear.. I really find it hard to imagine what their state of mind would have been. Shock I’d say. Survivors n the walking wounded were led out off the tracks and cared for by emergency services and volunteers but what they have seen on this illfated day will surely remain in their memories for a long time to come.
I must admit tho that the efforts of the LU staff n emergency services was commendable and made a major contribution in getting order restored at this critical time.

The attacks which took place were very cruel as were well engineered keeping in mind the massive devastation this would cause if detonated in the underground. Most of the underground lines are more than 70 feet deep some ranging upto 192 ft below ground. These circumstances resulting in intense heat of more than 60C, dust, fumes, asbestos made it more difficult for rescue workers and forensic operators, yet they worked tirelessly for the next weeks to come extracting bodies n clearing debris.
At that moment and to this day, my thoughts are with the victims and their families - The innocent people who lost their lives, amongst which were young youthful couples. Which of the victims could have guessed, 7th July, beginning as any other normal day would be their last?!

Two weeks in the wake of the attacks, July 21st just when people were beginning to pick up pieces of their life and gathering the courage to go back to using the underground tubes, trains and bus transport disaster stuck again (or atleast attempted to). Between the duration of 12.15 to 1.30 pm similar simultaneous attempts were made, linked with the 7 July bombs. Being at work the updates I received were just as scary. Once again Central London being targeted wherein emergency services were called to Warren Street station, Oval, Shepherds Bush and again another bus at Hackney Road was targeted.
Attempts were made by the bombers to detonate explosives they were carrying in their rucksacks which didn’t go off, just let out a small bang followed by the smell of smoke. The bombs not going off exposing their plot and ended up forcing them to abandon their belongings and flee the respective stations, caused a fervour with the authorities. Barring the feeling of anguish n fear of the haunting memories of the past, there were no injuries and no structural damage. From the occurrences on this day, detectives recovered a lot of evidence from the sites and were on the trail to capture the perpetrators.
Unfortunately they stumbled on to an innocent Brazilian man named Jean Charles de Menezes though unconnected, refused to stop when police asked him to for questioning. He became a prime suspect and was chased and shot at Oval tube station. Though Scotland Yard and Ian Blair have expressed their deep regret for such an occurrence the fact remains an innocent man lost his life being suspected for being a terrorist, leaving behind a distraught family.

Following their investigation n a series of successful armed raids across London, every suspected member of the July suicide bombing was under arrest after police operations stretching from a West London housing estate to the backstreets of Rome. Three suspects were arrested in West London while a fourth man, thought to be the Shepherd’s Bush Tube bomber, was arrested by police in Rome acting on information from Scotland Yard. Inspite of their success in this capture, Scotland Yard will now have to concentrate on the dangers still facing the public here as the identity of the masterminds is still at large.
I’m sure the police would utilise all their resources in questioning the captured yet the question remains -How many more people like these terrorists are out there waiting for just about the right time to terrorize innocent people going about their daily business? N Y? Y play with lives of the innocent? Moreso, being well aware these ended up being bombers of Brit origin, faces amongst the young British community..its difficult to fathom what to expect next.

Being fresh in our memories, what would the state of mind for people commuting be, specially since they are well aware using the tube and public transport cannot be avoided and one just has to get on with life. Time heals they say? To quote Tony Blaire’s statement “It's important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world. Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world”. Yea Yea all words Mr Blaire, whatever! Easy for u to say.. try commuting on the underground for one day and see the suspicion, fear n anxiety people still have in them, mingle with them and see the saucer eyed look they give to any young guy carryin a rucksack in any public transport system. Or see how they jump up if any plastic or paper bag is mistakenly left behind on a seat, then be it just an empty one. Y other people, I’ve behaved similarly on more than one occasion. If this has affected me n made me so wary as an individual inspite of not being directly involved in the occurrences, I can only imagine the state of Londoners, moreso the ones who had a 1st hand experience on the blast scene.

Tho suspicions still loom high, it is undeniable that the London community is pretty tolerant and calm n people didn’t take too long to adjust back to their normal routines. Infact seeing the renewed vigour its difficult to tell just abt a month back the stations n locations in question were struck by blasts. I can only hope this quest at the capture brings an end to the terror n distress this has caused Britian. Hmm I know, being well aware of anti social elements, n well aware of the motives of such heartless people im askin too much.. well as they say, one can always hope right?