Bus explosion in London
2005-07-08 14:20
London - An explosion destroyed a double-decker bus in central London during rush hour on Thursday, police said. There were reports of casualties, though not the extent of the wounded.
The bus exploded near Russell Square not long after blasts on London subways earlier on Thursday, police said. A witness said the entire top deck of the bus was destroyed.
"I saw lots of people running up a road and then saw the top of a bus destroyed," one eyewitness told Sky News.
Sky News producer Bob Mills said he heard the loud explosion near Euston Station.
Scotland Yard could not confirm reports of an explosion on a bus in Russell Square. A spokesperson said police were at the scene and attempting to determine what had happened.
The entire tube network has been shut down following the blasts at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.
It is understood several people have been wounded in the underground blasts, with one unconfirmed eyewitness telling Sky News he saw "bodies on the line".
British Transport Police confirmed there are "walking wounded" and said paramedics have responded to one report of a person classed as "life at risk".
"It's chaos, with people trying to work out what has happened," said a spokesperson.
One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from King's Cross when there was a huge flash.
The train stopped and people were using umberellas to smash windows of the trains. Passengers were led out of the train by underground staff.
He added people were milling around King's Cross covered in soot.
Clare Benson, 33, a city banker from Kensington, was on a tube at Edware Road where the second incident took place.
"I was in the last carriage at the back of the train nearest the tunnel when I heard a huge bang - you could feel it," she said.
"The lights went off for a couple of minutes and people were scared and wondering what to do.
"The drivers got out and were looking into the tunnel, then they announced that we should evacuate. My ears are still ringing and I was shaking."
Affected tube stations. (London Underground)