Chopper crash not linked to terror attack
2013-01-16 12:59
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Eyewitnesses described the helicopter crash in Central London as a "ball of flame". See the pictures.
London – Police said there was nothing to indicate that the crash on the
south bank of the River Thames was linked to an attack on London, where 52
commuters were killed in rush hour suicide bombings in 2005.
A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest
residential blocks in central London on Wednesday, killing two people as it
burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air.
"There was a really loud bang," said Julie Marsden, who works in
an office building near the crash site which is close to landmarks such as the
headquarters of Britain's MI6 international intelligence agency and the Houses
of Parliament.
"We saw the crane fall to the ground and this massive plume of black
smoke," Marsden told Reuters.
11 casualties
London's police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said there were 11
casualties including two dead and one critically injured. The fire service said
it had rescued a man from a burning car near Vauxhall train station, a major
commuter station on the south side of London, shortly after 08:00.
Hogan-Howe said the helicopter had been diverted to a helipad in Battersea,
near the crash site. He declined to give further information until relatives
had been informed.
"We're treating it as a major incident," he told the London
Assembly.
Rezart Islami, 27, a construction worker from Kosovo who had been on a
nearby site, said he saw the helicopter flying fast up the river before it
smashed into the crane, span out of control and hit the ground bursting into
flames some seconds later.
The crane fell and hit two cars. "I was shocked, it was spinning around
and lost control," he told Reuters.
Crane crash
Another witness, Edmir Pishtar, who was in a van outside the building site,
said he saw half the crane crash down and cut into two cars on the road. He
later spoke to the crane operator who was about to get inside the crane cab.
"He was literally shaking because he was getting ready to climb into
the crane and he was late."
The circular block - The Tower, One St George Wharf - is described on its
website as the epitome of luxury London living, with 360º views across the
capital and over the Houses of Parliament.
Builder Brookfield Multiplex said the tower, which is not occupied, is 52
floors or 185m high and has 212 luxury apartments. Media reports in recent
years have suggested the Penthouse apartments could go for as much as £50m.
A Reuters correspondent at the scene said tangled bits of crane could be
seen hanging off the side of the tower, the top of which was still shrouded by
low cloud. TV footage showed flaming wreckage strewn across a road.
"Fortunately for us we have done a full headcount and there are no
injuries or fatalities among anyone on the site," said Tony Pidgley, chairperson
of the tower's developer Berkeley Group .
"The crane driver normally starts at eight o'clock but unusually, today
of all days, was late."
Cause
He said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash but
helicopters should normally fly 150m above tall structures.
Police were questioning witnesses in the area and dozens of emergency
vehicles were in attendance, Reuters reporters said. London train and
underground train services were working as usual.
"There's nothing to suggest any terrorism link," a spokesperson
for London's Counter Terrorism Command said. The fire service said eight fire
engines and 60 firefighters were on the scene.
Helicopters in London are generally supposed to fly along the River Thames
but London City Airport said its flights had been disrupted due to low
visibility.
The Department of Transport's crash investigation unit said it was preparing
the launch an inquiry into the incident.
