Bombs in London

[b-grrrlie]

The news are on the radio right now.
There's been several explosions in London, they're evacuating the underground and one of the busses exploded.
First apparently there'd been an explosion at Algate station which affected the electricity and the whole underground system stopped. Then they took busses to use to transport people and one of them exploded right in the middle of the street!

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/07/07/london.tube/index.html)

[b-grrrlie]

Now there's been three busses that have exploded and explosions at Tavistock place and somewhere else that I didn't catch.


BBC news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm)

[open letter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm

bbc has eye witness accounts and stuff

so far looking pretty bad,3/4 buses blown up and the tube shut down and several blasts on the tube its self

(n)

[Beckalina]

security increases my arse

how the fuck did this happen

[Humiliation]

what makes it so fucking scary is i basically predicted that... i've been saying for weeks (as a joke) that something needs to blow up because it is so boring. And not 20 minutes before i heard i said "something needs to happen" "like now" :(

[b-grrrlie]

Even two underground trains have collided.
Now the police are saying it is terrorist attacks, not power failure (how would power failure explode busses :rolleyes: ). Sounds pretty similar to the attack in Madrid, or was someone not happy London getting the Olympics? :confused: :o

[intergalactic]

I know, I know!!! I was planning on going to go there today, but feeling really glad I didnt now- Im watching it all now on Sky News; at first I wanted desperately to believe that it was a power surge, but now it's pretty evident that its a terrorist attack particulary with the attack on London busses. So far no deaths have been reported, but there are douzens of casualties. Im just praying things dont get any worse we've been fortunate not to experience any attacks since the IRA bombings lets hope its the last.

Blair got of your fanny and come on home- sort this shit out - Fuck G8 we got problems of our own

[Gareth]

yeh man my sister called before from london, shit sounds rough (n)

take care londonheads

[Beckalina]

incase you care
stupid is ok, she is unable to post though

all other london board members i hope you're ok

[Freebasser]

I was in Liverpool Street joking about bombs not 3 or 4 days ago :(

[open letter]

london mobile net works have been shut down because they may have been used to detinate some of the bombs

so don't get to paniced if your mobile aint working

and brighton and swindon stations evac'ed due to suppicious packages

[roosta]

my sister was outside one of the tube stations when one of the bombs went off below. :(

she's ok tho

[Loppfessor]

WTF?? CNN showed like a lil 30 second blurb and then went to a story about some gay ass dancing show that's popular in the states. That's messed up

[b-grrrlie]

There's quite a big coverage on FOX news right now. Apparently two casualties and at least 90 injured (30 on each of the three buses).

[Freebasser]

The government have no one to blame but themselves.

I went through Liverpool Street about 10 times in the last 2 weeks, and only had my ticket checked twice.

[FearandLoathing]

Unfortunately, the BBC has said that they have received word from some Arab terrorist investigation firm that this is "almost certainly" the work of Al Qaeda. That fucks up my hopes that it was some crazy coincidental thing. Fuck.

[boys_beastie]

on itv news they were saying it was too easy to plant bombs (leaving a bag etc.) because its so busy and crowded n shit

its really fucked up

[chromium05]

one small thing I just heard

I was watching Sky News 2 minutes ago and they were interviewing the chief of the metropolitan police. The newsreader said to the police chief that he had just been handed a fax from the Isreali Intelligence agency which stated that they had been warned about the bombs by Scotland Yard (the Met) 5 minutes before they happened. At this point the police chief terminated the interview.

Don't know what could be read into that, but sounds a little bit wierd that the isreali's were warned or knew but all the commuters didn't????

[open letter]

this could be a destraction for somthing much bigger like

what with the g8/olympics :confused:

[Freebasser]

The explosions on the tube have been confirmed as bombs. One witness said individual carriages were blown up.

[Beckalina]

i really cannot believe this shit was allowed to happen, blair should be hung, na wait thats a bit harsh

[Humiliation]

because londons security is his job :rolleyes:

[open letter]

scotland yard are confurming 7 explosions and 2 dead

there will be way more dead that 2

[little j]

i hope all you london people are ok.
:(

[enree erzweglle]

It was all over the TVs at the gym. The last I heard, though, weren't they thinking that it was a power surge and not a bomb?

[Freebasser]

The power surge crap was being spouted hours ago.

It's a terrorist attack.

[enree erzweglle]

The power surge crap was being spouted hours ago.

It's a terrorist attack.
I just heard that about 30 minutes ago here (east coast USA).
But now I see on CNN that it is, indeed, being treated as a terrorist attack.
:( :( :(

[Beckalina]

they now say 20 dead

[ChrisLove]

Bastards!

Im stuck in Canary Wharf, I knew I shouldnt have gone to work today

[Beckalina]

i gotta say i think the emergency services are handling things brilliantly

[Freebasser]

An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.

So there you go.

[mp-seventythree]

Thsi is terrible news, but those of you who are saying "how could this be allowed to happen?" should think a little deeper. You all know that it's impossible to police every part of London 100% 24 hours a day. And even if they were able to, you would all be bitching about how your human rights were being violated with all the police presence etc.

I hate to say this but it was always a case of when not if...

[Beckalina]

yeah to be honest i always thought something like this would happen, i am glad they practiced for this so often

[mp-seventythree]

I think deep down evryone in the UK knew we were going to get hit sometime. It's very sad that it has happened in the way it has, and across such a wide section of the city. It looks like they were going for maximum chaos and disruption rather than huge numbers of casualties, but casualties are inevitable in this sort of situation.

[intergalactic]

So there you go.

you realise every terror group will want to claim responsibility

[mp-seventythree]

I reckon several will claim responsibility, as it will get them a lot of free "publicity"

[chromium05]

Yeah. It was always a case of when. I am thinking that 1 more bomb will go off today just to add up to 8 what with the Gleneagles thing.

They are saying that the exploding bus was down to a suicide bomber, along with the prospect that suicide bombers are "likely" on the underground too. If this is the case, and with what is being said about "islamic extremists" being behind the explosions, there'll probably be empty seats around anyone of asian origin on all trains and busses for the forseeable future.

[mp-seventythree]

They're now reporting that several people were killed at Edgeware Road.

[Tzar]

this shit = heavy.

there'd be more than 50 deaths if you ask me.

i'm so sick of these terrorist cunts 'ey.

[mp-seventythree]

Yeah, it makes you wonder whether it will ever end (I don't think it ever will)

[Tzar]

of course it won't. (n)
US/UK can invade *insert-country-here* and look for these terrorists but they won't find shit. they'll only do another Vietnam/Iraq.

[BGirl]

We woke up to this awful news. I've sent an email to my friends in London and am now studying the map of the underground to see how they might have been affected while I wait to hear from them... sent hubby off on his morning commute and wait nervously for him to arrive at work. :(

Hope all the London BBMBers are okay.

[Bitchamachacha]

i hope all you london people are ok.
:(


Agreed.

This is so sad. :mad:

[enree erzweglle]

Agreed.

This is so sad. :mad:

It's making my insides hurt. :(

[mp-seventythree]

I feel rather sick right now

[Thundercracker]

perfect timing.
:mad:

[mp-seventythree]

Thundercracker, are you talking about the fact that there was a meeting going on at the Israeli Embassy this morning?

[Tzar]

Thundercracker, are you talking about the fact that there was a meeting going on at the Israeli Embassy this morning?

that's news to me.
i think he/she means cause of the olympics.

[JBernas]

Hope all the London BBMBers are okay.

Ditto. My heart goes out to everyone over there and their families....I have that awful empty pit feeling in my stomach..... :(

[mp-seventythree]

You only need to read the statement from the group claiming responsibility for this for your answer. They are happy to murder innocent victims to try and get a message to the politicians.

I'm trying to contain my anger about this but it's becming increasingly difficult. I really should get away from this damn computer for a while.

[mp-seventythree]

This is the sort of fuckers we're dealing with (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4660391.stm)

[mp-seventythree]

A lot of the phone systems have been taken down (especially mobile networks) in London for the moment.

[enree erzweglle]

I'm trying to contain my anger about this but it's becming increasingly difficult. I really should get away from this damn computer for a while.
Let's take a walk. I'll do one now and you do one too and we'll report back. Go...

[monkey]

im sorry this happened. im so sorry this is the kind of world we live in. my condolences to the families that are affected by this. and to londoners that have to now live in a world where the threat of future attacks is an everyday fear.

i really, truly feel for you.

[Beckalina]

i can't get through to my mum on the phone (she works in central london) and i'm feel sick with worry :( :( :(
I am glad you posted i was worried about you, and ms peachy i hope she posts soon

[mp-seventythree]

London has had many bomb attacks before, and I'm sure it will again. Just not this many all at the same time. They're been living with this sort of threat for decades.

[mp-seventythree]

Let's take a walk. I'll do one now and you do one too and we'll report back. Go...

Yeah I'm just putting a pizza in the oven and making a cup of tea. I really should be sleeping right now as I'm working nights tonight, but I'm certain that it's not going to happen.

[enree erzweglle]

Yeah I'm just putting a pizza in the oven and making a cup of tea. I really should be sleeping right now as I'm working nights tonight, but I'm certain that it's not going to happen.
I'll take a walk for the both of us. :) I wouldn't be able to sleep right now either.

[Beckalina]

thanks becks. i hope ms. peachy does post soon, just so we know she's alright.

i've text a few of my mates and only one has answered so far :( :( :(
mobile phones were down, i am not sure if they still are, but i haven't been able to contact anyone on their mobiles either

[enree erzweglle]

Im glad Im hearing from you too. And you too Becky.

I hope Ms. Peachy Logs on soon. :(

And Im sure you will hear from you mates and your mum as soon as the lines are up again!
It's when things like this happen and I think of people from here that I know who are there and I realize that it really is more than just an internet. I care about you people.

[Beckalina]

Im glad Im hearing from you too. And you too Becky.

I hope Ms. Peachy Logs on soon. :(

And Im sure you will hear from you mates and your mum as soon as the lines are up again!
thanks Aimee,

I hope all is well with everybody

[Yeti]

i really cannot believe this shit was allowed to happen


How can anyone stop a terrorist act? They act through surprise attacks which is the definition of cowardice. Unfortunately these unfathomable acts are going to be a part of our lives.

My thoughts go out to my brothers and sisters in London.

[TAL]

My friends in London are ok.

Other than that, I'm not very happy about all this.

[P of R]

This is all (n) .

[mp-seventythree]

reports are now saying that at least 43 dead and over 1000 injured

[miss soul fire]

I'm worried about London board members and sad for the people who died.

Especulations will drive us crazy right now.

[mp-seventythree]

45 and counting :(
This is shit

[Mcmac]

this is very shit. :mad:

fuckin crazy shit...i have a bad feeling australia is next :(

[Tzar]

this is very shit. :mad:

fuckin crazy shit...i have a bad feeling australia is next :(

i doubt it. i mean, shit, i can say that and it might happen tomorrow. but Australia is pretty far out from everything else. another reason why Perth isn't so big. it's so secluded(sp) from everything.

but then again! who predicted Bali out of all the places?? :(

[RobMoney]

"The war on terrorism"


What a fuckin joke perpetrated by our Politicians. How do you fight a war against a war tactic (terrorism).

Perhaps we should start shooting the al queda detainees the US has in custody at Gitmo.

We reacted the same way after Pearl Harbor when we were attacked by surprise by Japan. They employed a strategy of war that we were not used to fighting,

we need to consider a different strategy in this "War on Terrorism"

[voltanapricot]

I can't believe it. Yesterday, Britain was a happy nation.

There was also a bomb found today at our city bus station. It has been controlled but Christ, this is terrible.

By the way, this bus station is close to where the International Children's Games are going to be opened today, a bit curious?

[Mcmac]

i doubt it. i mean, shit, i can say that and it might happen tomorrow. but Australia is pretty far out from everything else. another reason why Perth isn't so big. it's so secluded(sp) from everything.

but then again! who predicted Bali out of all the places?? :(

yer but uno there have been so many threats to aus about pulling out our troops and shit and we have alot of troops there still. hopefully sydney not melbourne!

[Tzar]

hopefully sydney not melbourne!

don't even say that, yo.

i tell ya, if a terrorist action touches AUS; ohhhh boy. i'll be fuming. :mad:

[kll]

So far no deaths have been reported, but there are douzens of casualties.

I'm confused...

[franscar]

There are 45 confirmed deaths, and many seriously wounded.

[voltanapricot]

There was 22 when I first heard. :(

[franscar]

There was 22 when I first heard. :(

They are now saying that the underground areas that were affected have now all been cleared, so hopefully that number will not rise any higher.

[Kid Presentable]

When Iraq was invaded, J and me went down to Devon. We were worried about something like this happening, but I can't even describe the regret that it actually has happened. :(

Much love and good thoughts to you and yours in London town...

We're all thinkin about you...

[beastieangel01]

I felt sick to my stomach when I heard, and still do. I'm sorry, anyone here who has been effected directly by this, or even had to be around it. It's awful :( I don't even know what else to say.

[avignon]

My prayers are with you all.

[Beckalina]

How can anyone stop a terrorist act? They act through surprise attacks which is the definition of cowardice. Unfortunately these unfathomable acts are going to be a part of our lives.

yeah I know, I was just being a bit angry innit

[Kid Presentable]

this is very shit. :mad:

fuckin crazy shit...i have a bad feeling australia is next :(

I don't mean to get picky, but our involvement is minor. Our govt is so reliant on media spin that by making Howard's involvement in this look crucial, it gives us the illusion of importance.

We have next to none.

Italy have more troops in Iraq than us, and as such I would feel that they would be the likely target, if any.

Take some solace in the bittersweet notion that our pathetic government and our superfluous involvement in the War on Terrorism is largely of no consequence.

[Echewta]

Thoughts to those effected.

[g-mile7]

this is some depressing shit. People just cant let people have happiness. And to those trying to give these terroist rights, how do you give rights to uncivilized savages, people willing to cut peoples heads off. I say fuck em all (the terrorist) maybes this will wake up the rest of the wrold to this plague

[Bitchamachacha]

I heard from VenusVenus (Ali). She's okay, but shaken up.

:(

[Kid Presentable]

this is some depressing shit. People just cant let people have happiness. And to those trying to give these terroist rights, how do you give rights to uncivilized savages, people willing to cut peoples heads off. I say fuck em all (the terrorist) maybes this will wake up the rest of the wrold to this plague

Damn, we're prepared to drop bombs on innocent people in the name of some pathetic creature in the sky who built a ball of mud for his own pleasure.

Terrorists are everywhere.

[mp-seventythree]

I heard from VenusVenus (Ali). She's okay, but shaken up.

:(
I'm glad she's okay, for some reason she was the first board member I thought of when I heard about the bombs.

[Kid Presentable]

Hear from Padster?

[jennyb]

Oh my, I do hope all our fellow board members are ok.

:mad: Aaargh! WTF with all this terrorist shit! I just don't get it. I pray these terrorist assholes burn and rot in hell for all eternity. :mad:

[mp-seventythree]

The freaky thing is they think we're the evil ones, and they're doing something to put it right :confused:

[Kid Presentable]

:mad: Aaargh! WTF with all this terrorist shit! I just don't get it. I pray these terrorist assholes burn and rot in hell for all eternity. :mad:

Thanks to politics, they feel the same about you...

[enree erzweglle]

The freaky thing is they think we're the evil ones, and they're doing something to put it right :confused:
Some of us think we are the evil ones too.

[Kid Presentable]

Some of us think we are the evil ones too.

Yup..And you wouldn't be paying much attention if you disagreed..

[JBernas]

"The war on terrorism"


What a fuckin joke perpetrated by our Politicians. How do you fight a war against a war tactic (terrorism).



I saw a bumper sticker that said:

Fighting for peace
Is like fucking for virginity

[voltanapricot]

Hear from Padster?
I have. He was about 1/4 mile away from it all. Crazy.

I thought of venusvenus123, too, was waiting to see her sign in. I'm glad she's alright!

[ChrisLove]

Thoughts on today...

Emergency services and procedures were excellent, everyone seemed to know what to do and where to be, police in all the right places and medical crews getting to the scene very quick.

Also I was at work in Canary Wharf today, my normal comute means travelling accross London by Underground which obviously was impossible today. Instead an emergency ferry service was put on the Thames and I managed to cross London on some ninja quick boat (East to West) in only about 20 mins longer than it usually takes, fan-bloody-tastic.

Lets not get carried away with this tho, it was a reletively small attack, its sad cos many people died but the best way to beat the terrorists is to not let them effect your life at all, deny them the terror aspect and they have nothing. Worse happens in Iraq (and other places) all the time Im sure so we should put some purspective on this yo.

[mp-seventythree]

Well put Chris. It's good to hear some local perspective.

[ms.peachy]

I am OK, thanks much to those of you who expressed concern. Had a bit of a 'near miss' and I am still pretty fucking freaked out by it and I don't really want to go into any details at the moment because it's upsetting but I'm OK and mr.peachy is OK and that's good enough for me right now.

[mp-seventythree]

Good to hear you're okay Ms Peachy :)
Hope you're not too shocked by whatever your near miss was.

[enree erzweglle]

I am OK, thanks much to those of you who expressed concern. Had a bit of a 'near miss' and I am still pretty fucking freaked out by it and I don't really want to go into any details at the moment because it's upsetting but I'm OK and mr.peachy is OK and that's good enough for me right now.
I have been checking this thread like every 5 minutes to see your name here. Whew. Please take care.

[Lindsey_1535]

I have been checking this thread like every 5 minutes to see your name here. Whew. Please take care.
Same, glad to hear you and the bbmbers are ok

[mp-seventythree]

I have to go to work soon, and although it's not in London we have a lot of very close links with the city. It will be interesting to see if the shit has hit the fan there today (if it hasn't I'll probably only work a half shift, I'm knackered as I woke up at 6.15am, having gone to bed at 4am)

[Jodry]

Tear For London (http://www.NEWgrounds.com/portal/view/249827)
Self explanitory..

[Tone Capone]

:(

This whole thing sucks.

[jennyb]

:mad: Aaargh! WTF with all this terrorist shit! I just don't get it. I pray these terrorist assholes burn and rot in hell for all eternity. :mad:

Thanks to politics, they feel the same about you...


Yes Yes... :( Unfortunately I have similar sentiments about the Regime perfoming atrocities in the name of my country.

*shakes head*

In calling out "terrorist assholes" I mean strictly the ones inflicting violence... not the countries they came from, nor the religions they claim to be doing this for or whatever stupid shit...ugh

Two wrongs do not equal a right... It's simply dead wrong to kill. That's it. (n) blech!

[Parkey]

Holy Fuck! Just managed to get back home having been at Kings Cross when it kicked off. That was proper nasty.

[Trimm Trabb]

Glad to hear you're ok Parkey.

Really, I can't say anything about all this that hasn't been said before.
It's well fucked up and it makes me so angry that there are people who do these kind of things to innocent people. With stupid reasons like 'Allah will welcome us and give us somany virgins.'

I hope they do go to allah and have a bunch of virgins waiting for them, but I hope the virgins will be 60 year old bearded uglies with smelly vagina's that can't be penetrated because of all the fungus and that they have bad tempers and western mentalities and will kick the shit out of any man who will even dare to touch them...

hereby endeth my rant.

[Thundercracker]

that's news to me.
i think he/she means cause of the olympics.
he.
and yep.

[cosmo105]

it's been really hard to eat anything today because of this. seriously, i'm glad to hear from all the bbmb londoners so far. if there are any others we're not mentioning, hopefully they're safe and sound as well...it's too bad Paul Jones' net is down or whatever's going on with him.

man.

:(

[timmie]

Sorry, I'm here Im cool!!! this has come up fast!! what a fucking fuck!!!! sorry for my language!! but what a day! It has been terrible!! I am nearly crying typing this. I want to leave it there for me.

My wife to be has been in the middle of it!! she is OK (thank god) very shaken up! trembling! she was running late & caught the tube after the one that got bombed through the Kings Cross Line, she did however get the effect from the blast! & experienced another one!! we have had a couple of drinks to calm ourselves but watching the news is just not sinking in. My heart goes out to everyone!

Sorry to go a bit in depth but I wont go any further......

[Tzar]

it's too bad Paul Jones' net is down or whatever's going on with him.

man.

:(

oh yeah!
he should be 'right.
he probably slept in with a hangover after a hard night on the piss. :p

nah but ain't he a courier? he woulda driven to work, and not needed to take the tube.

[Kid Presentable]

oh yeah!
he should be 'right.
he probably slept in with a hangover after a hard night on the piss. :p

nah but ain't he a courier? he woulda driven to work, and not needed to take the tube.

Most of them need to take the tube..

[ToucanSpam]

Im glad the bbmbers from around there are alright....


So much hate... :(

[Laver1969]

Sorry, I'm here Im cool!!! this has come up fast!! what a fucking fuck!!!! sorry for my language!! but what a day! It has been terrible!! I am nearly crying typing this. I want to leave it there for me.

My wife to be has been in the middle of it!! she is OK (thank god) very shaken up! trembling! she was running late & caught the tube after the one that got bombed through the Kings Cross Line, she did however get the effect from the blast! & experienced another one!! we have had a couple of drinks to calm ourselves but watching the news is just not sinking in. My heart goes out to everyone!

Sorry to go a bit in depth but I wont go any further......

Glad to hear you and your family are safe! :)

[Homsar]

If anyone is wondering, I'm okay.

LONDON'S BURNING!! :(

[Beth]

i'm glad all the londoners checked in. i didn't find out until lunch, and my first thought was all the london people from here. i'm glad all who have checked in are ok as are their families, and i hope those that haven't checked in are just unable due to net issues.

sorry, london. :(

[QueenAdrock]

Condolences to everyone out there who's been affected.

This shit really scares me. We're not helping any situation by being in Iraq, we're just making things worse...and my friends are over there now. I pray for all of them.

[timmie]

Thanks for your concerns!!!!!

[mp-seventythree]

I know Paul Jones lives in Milton Keynes, but I don't know where he works (I just assumed he works in MK too).

[Thundercracker]

at least 52 dead and 700 injured.

R.I.P.
:(

[venusvenus123]

hello everyone.

thanks for thinking of me, those who did :o:)

i am fine. my sister just went back up into the city... i live about a mile south of the city district so she took refuge in my house last night rather than risk crossing through the DANGER zone.

it is pretty freaky, especially as the bombs went off in so many different locations. my neighbour was having a meeting in a coffee shop in the centre and this woman walked in, covered in soot, with no idea where she was or what was going on :( ... but i guess she knew that she needed coffee! :confused:

i think the most annoying thing is that my QOTSA gig got cancelled. those terrorists are SO inconsiderate! :mad:

i'm sure PJ is fine as he lives quite a way outside london.

[mp-seventythree]

Glad to hear you're okay Venus :)

[rirv]

I'm OK as well.

[King of Rock II]

of course you are, there's lots of people in london.

what a week this was for your city. live aid, olympics, terrorist bombings.

[Parkey]

of course you are, there's lots of people in london.

what a week this was for your city. live aid, olympics, terrorist bombings.
A slow news week...

[Dr Deaf]

happy to hear everyone so far is aight.

anyone hear from tgmb and blighty?

when i first heard of the attacks i immediately thought about who was really behind it. i don't think winning the olympic bid has any relevance. the G8 summit angle definitely makes sense. i'm not a terrorist sympathizer but every day in iraq, at least 45-100 innocents are killed everyday.

it seems like terrorists are speaking to their enemy in the universal language -- murder, tragedy and chaos. you want to roll into places you don't belong and start killing people, you can't really be too astonished when the shoe is on the other foot.

/pours out liquor for the deceased.

keep your heads up londoners.

[little j]

i cant stop thinking how scared i would be if i were on a crowed metro and it exploded.

crazy ass shit man.

crazy ass shit.

i hope brodie and blighty are ok.

i hope chris and geoff are ok. (friends of la familia)

:(

[ms.peachy]

i cant stop thinking how scared i would be if i were on a crowed metro and it exploded.

crazy ass shit man.

crazy ass shit.

Well, yes. But. The thing is, you'd cope, just like everyone here has.

Ever since sept 11 I have definitely often thought, as I would sit on the tube on my everyday journey on the Piccadilly Line, what if today is the day? what if it happened now? Not in a state of paranoia or anything, and not to make myself crazy or be overly anxious, but just because everyone in London has known for a long time now that any day could be the day.

So would I be a person who could remain calm, and assist others? Will I remember anything of my first aid training? Would I panic, and be of no help to myself or anyone else? What if it's not me, but my husband -what if one day he leaves for work and never comes home, how will I be able in my grief to handle the nine million things that will need to be done, like pay the mortgage and notify the credit card companies and cancel his magazine subscriptions and all of the mundane things that constitute the running of a life?

Again, all that's not to be morbid, it's just a sort of practical mental exercise for living in modern times, if you will. You hope you never need to find out the answers for real, but you have to keep in the back of your mind that maybe, someday, you might.

Very, very, very fortunately for me, yesterday was not my day. Because I was headed out of town, on probably the last train to leave Liverpool Street Station before it was evacuated, because I was attending a conference - instead of sitting/standing on a packed southbound Piccadilly Line train headed for my office, as I would have been at that time if it had been any other day than yesterday.

[JBernas]

what if today is the day? what if it happened now?

I think this sometimes too.....I work a stone's throw from a MAJOR airforce base and can hear them taking off and landing....sometimes it's so loud that it shakes the walls of my building....makes me think that something is going on that we don't know about. If that AFB were to get bombed, we'd be SOL considering we're about a block away....scary.

Glad to hear of your near miss.....sometimes I'll pull up on a major accident and think to myself "what if I hadn't hit snooze that last time"...but then again, you can't "what if" yourself to death.

[enree erzweglle]

I think about it too.

I know that if my son had been in those buildings or those subways, nothing could have kept me out. I just know that so clearly and definitively that it's absurd to even think twice about it.

But I've often though about what I would have done otherwise--like if it had just been me in there.

I know that when it did happen and in the days after, I had friends who were holding me and my sister back from going to NYC to try to help. But I'm talking about in the moment. What would I have done right there, in the moment, as people were struggling to get out. I'd like to think I'd know what I would have done but I wonder. I think I know for sure that I would have helped people who were stuck--the infirmed/handicapped. But would I have gone back in to help...? And as a fireman, could I have walked in when everyone else was running out?

Maybe not then, but now I think so.

Now, my kid is grown and it's just me for me. You know? But when he was younger, I had a much higher or a different sense of self-preservation because of him and my obligation to him. It was just the two of us and everything I did--consciously or not--I did with him in mind. So I think even just a few years ago, I would have looked after myself first and would not have gone back in. Now, different story I think.

[ms.peachy]

...but then again, you can't "what if" yourself to death.
precisely. So this morning, I still had to get home (slept at a friend's place just outside the city), and I got on a tube and a bus and came home. Because you have have to get on with things.

As I was on the bus, a young Muslim guy got on, with the long shirt and the knit cap. And you know, I don't want to be this person who looks at a young guy who is just trying to get to work or classes or home or whatever and think the worst, you know? But of course where did my mind go, and I thought for a moment about getting off the bus. But fuck me, I just can't live my life like that, and what am I going to do, just start jumping at the shadow of any young Muslim guy? And how much does it suck to BE that guy on my bus today, knowing that everyone will look at you that way? On the one hand you could say he could try to 'blend in', cut his beard, wear western clothes, lose the cap. But just like I should not have to adjust my life for terrorists, why should he let them take from him what is his right? But, what if I had guessed wrong, hedged my bet the wrong way? What if, what if, what if? It will only make you crazy, in the end.

[enree erzweglle]

precisely. So this morning, I still had to get home (slept at a friend's place just outside the city), and I got on a tube and a bus and came home. Because you have have to get on with things.

As I was on the bus, a young Muslim guy got on, with the long shirt and the knit cap. And you know, I don't want to be this person who looks at a young guy who is just trying to get to work or classes or home or whatever and think the worst, you know? But of course where did my mind go, and I thought for a moment about getting off the bus. But fuck me, I just can't live my life like that, and what am I going to do, just start jumping at the shadow of any young Muslim guy?

I live in a neighborhood that's probably 90% Orthodox/Hasidic Jewish.
I was out with friends about a year after 9/11 and we noticed, on several different corners of the neighborhood, various Muslims doing prayers on the little carpets (sorry if there's a name for those).

You usually don't see Muslims here but that day, I must have seen 10-15 in different parts of the neighborhood either walking or praying. I didn't think twice about it until a friend said that we should call the police. (!) I didn't. I don't know if she did but yeah, I was thinking the same thing--it would suck to be a Muslim here right now. Really, it would suck to just have dark hair and skin--my friend looks very middle eastern although he's not and he felt watchful eyes on him in the weeks and months following 9/11.

ms.peachy, you have pluck. I thought that about you before but now I know it. Good on you for that. (On the news here, I'm hearing a lot of similar testimonies from Londoners. All the way from young kids to refined typically English-looking old gentlemen.)

[ms.peachy]

ms.peachy, you have pluck. I thought that about you before but now I know it. Good on you for that. (On the news here, I'm hearing a lot of similar testimonies from Londoners. All the way from young kids to refined typically English-looking old gentlemen.)
The essential difference between yesterday and 9/11 is the lack of surprise, I think. Although no one expected it yesterday per se, as I said we've all known it could/maybe even probably would happen sometime. It didn't come literally out of the blue like the WTC attack. So I think what we've seen in London is a reaction that's a bit like "So, here it is. Now we know. Let's deal with it." It's still shocking and painful and scary and awful, but it's not the same as "Oh my god, how can this have happened!"

Plus of course there is the fact that London has dealt with the IRA years and although this is tactically a different sort of attacker, people weathered that and life has gone on. And we have seen a lot on the news in the past week about the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, and talk of the spirit of London during the Blitz. So London can take a good few punches and not go down, you know?

[mp-seventythree]

Bobby, Blighty and Brodie live quite a way from London so I'm guessing they're all cool.
It's nice to see the way the public and the services in London have coped with this. And I was touched to see the Salvation Army had their catering vans out, helping victims and the police/fire/ambulance staff... they're good people, and they're always there in difficult situations. People often forget that.

[im_country_mike]

I live in surbiton, just outside of London. It's fucked up shit what happened, but it was going to happen. My mate was at Kings Cross at 8:15 yesterday morning, it's scary that it is so close to home. I read in the newspaper that it was a suicude bomber on the bus, first time that's ever happened on British soil.
7/7 = a day of hell.
RIP

[BGirl]

The essential difference between yesterday and 9/11 is the lack of surprise, I think. Although no one expected it yesterday per se, as I said we've all known it could/maybe even probably would happen sometime. It didn't come literally out of the blue like the WTC attack.

Errr... well, the WTC had been attacked in '93 and I think a lot of people (myself included) were not all that surprised that it was attacked again, and I can only speak from when I moved here ('95) but I think most New Yorkers were aware of a general threat of terrorist attacks on the city. I was getting off the A at the WTC stop, going to the PATH (a platform next to the site of the previous bombing - a parking garage in '93 but after that closed to the public - a maintenance area for the towers or something, I'm not completely sure) on Sept 11 when I heard the distant, muffled boom of the second plane hitting the south tower and I was like, "Oh here it is, a bombing." (I thought a bombing in the concourse area or lobby). But when I got outside and saw what had happened..... (!)

So yes, there was surprise, it still was a huge shock in the way the attack was carried out, and the hugeness of the event and the number of casualties (nearly all deaths) etc. But I wanted to mention that earlier event.




I'm so glad to hear from you and the other Londoners who have checked in. Hopefully everyone will be accounted for soon.

<3

[ms.peachy]

So yes, there was surprise, it still was a huge shock in the way the attack was carried out, and the hugeness of the event and the number of casualties (nearly all deaths) etc. But I wanted to mention that earlier event.

Oh trust me I am well aware of the '93 bombing... I had just come off the PATH at WTC and was a block away on West Broadway for that one. (But that's a whole other adventure. This near-miss business is getting to be a pattern... Ha ha, missed me again motherfuckers. Please stop trying.)

But as you may know, the fact that the building took that hit so well, and that damage and casualties were minimal at that time, was a matter of some pride to New Yorkers and if anything served to add to our collective sense of strength in the face of threat. So it's not that New York felt invulnerable, but certainly there was nothing even vaguely like the sense of grudging anticipation on NY in Sept 2001 that there was in London in July 2005.

[QueenAdrock]

Yeah. My dad is a retired government worker, he went to the WTC bombing in '93 and collected evidence and took pictures and whatnot. I still have the pictures, they're pretty scary. Most people don't know how serious of a bombing that one was, but the entire garage/bottom floor was blown out, and a Presidential limo that was parked across the street had its bullet-proof glass shattered (still have a chunk of it).

I know about a lot of bombings in America, they're more commonplace than one would think. Just not widely publicized, or they didn't hurt anyone/detinate correctly. It's a sad world we live in.

[Beckalina]

i think the most annoying thing is that my QOTSA gig got cancelled.

so did my prodigy gig, but i am glad it did, i wouldn't have been able to get there if it hadn't as i would've had to travel through central london.
Anywho that was a really irrelivant comment

[BGirl]

Oh trust me I am well aware of the '93 bombing... I had just come off the PATH at WTC and was a block away on West Broadway for that one. (But that's a whole other adventure. This near-miss business is getting to be a pattern... Ha ha, missed me again motherfuckers. Please stop trying.)

But as you may know, the fact that the building took that hit so well, and that damage and casualties were minimal at that time, was a matter of some pride to New Yorkers and if anything served to add to our collective sense of strength in the face of threat. So it's not that New York felt invulnerable, but certainly there was nothing even vaguely like the sense of grudging anticipation on NY in Sept 2001 that there was in London in July 2005.

Well like I say I wasn't there in '93 but what can I say, I and others had been expecting something (maybe not for the same reasons) when we were hit in 2001, partly because of the '93 bombing. I had thought from what you wrote that you had already moved away from here by Sept 11 so I thought I'd give my perspective from my experiences. What you and others have written in this thread reminded me of how I was feeling that night after my own near-miss and witnessing of horror :(



missed me again motherfuckers. Please stop trying.


Amen to this.

[Dr Deaf]

Bobby, Blighty and Brodie live quite a way from London so I'm guessing they're all cool.
It's nice to see the way the public and the services in London have coped with this. And I was touched to see the Salvation Army had their catering vans out, helping victims and the police/fire/ambulance staff... they're good people, and they're always there in difficult situations. People often forget that.

check that sir. i know both are avid diggers and could trek over to london to hit the rekkid shops etc. i'm just hopping they didn't trek over that day.

stay strong UK peeps, whatever hasn't killed you just makes you stronger. (y)

[ms.peachy]

Well like I say I wasn't there in '93 but what can I say, I and others had been expecting something (maybe not for the same reasons) when we were hit in 2001, partly because of the '93 bombing. I had thought from what you wrote that you had already moved away from here by Sept 11 so I thought I'd give my perspective from my experiences. What you and others have written in this thread reminded me of how I was feeling that night after my own near-miss and witnessing of horror :(

To clarify - I had moved to London before Sept 11, but I was still in the NY area in '93, living in downtown JC. So I used to take the PATH into the city at that time. (We moved in '99.)

Don't misunderstand, I am not trying to minimise in any way either of the events in NY. All I'm saying is that there wasn't the same palpable sense of "is today the day" on, say, Sept 10 2001, as there was on July 6 2005, if you see what I mean. I think the difference maybe comes down to possibility vs. probability, if that makes sense.

Either way, it all just kinda sucks, really.

[BGirl]

To clarify - I had moved to London before Sept 11, but I was still in the NY area in '93, living in downtown JC. So I used to take the PATH into the city at that time. (We moved in '99.)


Well on a lighter note, how about that, we had a near-miss of each other. I worked in JC (as you might have guessed) starting in '99.

And I think I know what you're saying... the threat we felt in 2001 was further in the back of the mind, not as concrete I suppose.

[venusvenus123]

so did my prodigy gig, but i am glad it did, i wouldn't have been able to get there if it hadn't as i would've had to travel through central london.
Anywho that was a really irrelivant comment
yeah, that was a joke you moron.

thanks for reminding me why i rarely come here anymore.

[BGirl]

check that sir. i know both are avid diggers and could trek over to london to hit the rekkid shops etc. i'm just hopping they didn't trek over that day.

stay strong UK peeps, whatever hasn't killed you just makes you stronger. (y)
word

[Lex Diamonds]

Don't worry guys, I'm OK!

[Pres Zount]

Phew.

Are you stronger, faster, tougher, pad?

[Lex Diamonds]

Yeah. I was transformed by some radiation and held by the US Army in the top secret Area 51 facility. But they underestimated my powers and I broke free whilst they were performing a routine test. Now I travel the world fighting crime and avoiding the authorities, a misunderstood vigilante with no place to call home.

[na§tee]

you totally searched for your name on da boardz.

[Pres Zount]

Cool. Cool.

[Lex Diamonds]

you totally searched for your name on da boardz.
Who doesn't?