Explosions rock London subway, killing dozens
Three explosions rocked the London subway, and one tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday. The blasts killed at least 50 people, and hospitals reported many hundred treated for injuries in what a shaken Prime Minister Tony Blair called a series of "barbaric" terrorist attacks.
A senior police official said traces of explosives were found at two explosion sites.
Blair said it was clear the attacks were designed to coincide with the opening of the G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. The meeting of world leaders would continue, but he would return to London, Blair said.
"They will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world," said Blair, flanked by fellow G-8 leaders, including President Bush. "We shall prevail and they shall not."
President Bush later warned Americans to be "extra vigilant" as they head to work after the deadly explosions in London.
Bush said he spoke with federal Homeland Security officials back in Washington.
"I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here in London," Bush told reporters from a summit of world leaders here.
A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility for the blasts, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Web statement, republished on the site of the German magazine Der Spiegel, could not be immediately confirmed.
Britain's Home Secretary Charles Clarke said there were three explosions in the subway and one on a bus. Officials at hospitals surveyed by the Associated Press reported about 190 people treated for injuries. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick said about 150 people were seriously injured.
Police have confirmed that there were some fatalities but had not confirmed any numbers by early afternoon.
"It was chaos," said Gary Lewis, 32, who was evacuated from a subway train at King's Cross station. "The one haunting image was someone whose face was totally black and pouring with blood."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the blasts that ripped through his city were "mass murder" carried out by terrorists bent on "indiscriminate ... slaughter."
"This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty or the powerful; it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers; it was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners," said Livingstone, in Singapore where he supported London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics. "We know what the objective is. They seek to divide London."
The blasts came one day after the Olympic decision. Giselle Davies, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said the committee still had "full confidence" in London.
Pope Benedict XVI deplored the "terrorist attacks" in London, calling them "barbaric acts against humanity," and said he was praying for the families of the victims.
Sir Ian Blair, London's police chief, said he was concerned the explosions were a coordinated attack but said he wouldn't speculate on who was responsible. He said officials had found indications of explosives at one of the sites.
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