London death toll over 50
2005-07-08 12:23
London - More than 50 people died in four terrorist bombings in London, the city's police chief said on Friday.
Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said work continued to establish the precise number of dead from the blasts on three subway trains and a double-decker bus.
Blair said there was no evidence that the attacks had been carried out by suicide bombers.
"We have absolutely nothing to suggest this was a suicide bombing attack although nothing at this stage to rule that out," Blair told a news conference.
Police on Thursday had confirmed that 35 people died on subway trains. Blair said one person had died in a hospital, and it was unclear whether that victim was on a train or in the bus.
"Initially, the forensic investigation suggests that each device used had less than 4.5kg of high explosives," said Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman. He said the size of the explosives indicates they would have been small enough to carry in backpacks.
"We do believe that each device put on the tube trains was put on the floor of the carriages," Hayman said.
Police denied that they had found any unexploded devices, as an unidentified United States official had claimed. They attributed the report to the initial confusion about the number of bombs.
Hayman appealed for patience as the investigation proceeds.
"Our people are working under the most extreme circumstances," he said.
Blair said the attacks had "all the hallmarks" of an al-Qaeda attack. The police commissioner also said it was possible an active terror cell was still intact and capable of another attack.
"We must remain vigilant," he said.
Near the Russell Square tube station, police still haven't gotten near the carriage, fearing the tunnel is unsafe, Hayman said. Twenty-one dead were confirmed in that incident. Authorities have not been able to remove the bodies from that site.
"I would ask for everyone's patience in the amount of time it will take us to progress this matter."
Blair confirmed that police considered shutting down London's mobile telephone networks on Thursday as the explosions were reported, but ruled it out.
"We did consider it. We do have that ability," Blair said. But he said commanders considered how that would affect public confidence, and decided not to do it.
- AP