Explosion at Liverpool Street - Thread Two (News Updates Go Here)

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Just cause it's almost impossible to get to the bottom of the first thread.

MOD EDIT: This thread is for posting news updates. Discussion and analysis should go on another thread, for instance this one.

SUMMARY FOR NEW READERS: All of London ILX are accounted for and OK, except for Liz, who is missing. As soon as we have any news of her we will post it and also start a new thread.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 7 July 2005 12:51 (twenty years ago)

CNN are reporting 40 deaths, 300 casualties and 1000 walking wounded apparently. The BBC are reporting 2 confirmed deaths. I am glad we have Public Service Broadcasting.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 7 July 2005 12:54 (twenty years ago)

Guardian trying to confirm more than 30 deaths...

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Just heard about this and haven't read the first thread. Does it seem like all ILXors are OK? I guess that's a selfish question to ask, but I just want to make sure.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:02 (twenty years ago)

Am I right in thinking that the only person who hasn't checked in so far is Liz?

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

Most are accounted for.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

Everyone else accounted for afaik.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

(At my saying that, some regular who has been stranded on the tube for six hours is going to pop up and say NOT ONLY WAS I STRANDED ON AN EXPLODED TUBE, BUT YOU HAAAAAAATE ME AND HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME, TOO!)

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

I've not seen Liz check in yet. Anyone know where she could be?

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

Of course I can no longer get to the bottom of the thread...

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

hehe, kate otm i think :)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

Because it happened on 7/7 we aren't going to confuse Americans if we refer to today like that in the future I guess.

I still feel really shakey. Picturing what it must have been like on the tube when it happened and they're still trying to get people out, apparently.

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

Argh, even the Guardian has started rocking the "Terrorists Rock London" strapline. :-(

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

Argh, even the Guardian has started rocking the "Terrorists Rock London" strapline. :-(

I can't help thinking of the proximity in timing to Live8 here.

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

It's big city and there aren't really that many ILXors here so, statistically, we should be alright

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Radio 1 now playing "Where Is The Love".

Too soon.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

Hey Dada! Are your statisticals alright?

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

If anyone is in the area (Matt? Colette?) I'm meeting Alix outside Angel tube station at 4.30pm - just if anyone is passing that way and wants to meet up briefly.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

The bus bomb was on a Number 30 from Hackney

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

hope i'm not speaking out of line here, but i've just had an email from Rob and they haven't managed to speak to liz yet. i'm sure, as martin said, she's just somewhere the phone isn't working.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Even so, Gareth come close to the bus blast time/ location wise

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:12 (twenty years ago)

Anyone spotted EBTG "Walking Wounded" yet on the media?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

For awhile I had completely forgotten that a girl in my social circle, my best freind's former roommate, recently got knocked up and moved to London to marry her British husband. Who drives a tube train. . . no word from them yet.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

I hope Liz is OK!

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

I really, really need a drink. If anyone's in the Angel area would they be up for meeting in the Red Lion? I don't quite feel like walking through central London just yet.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

I'm going to walk home soon and will be passing Angel. Don't know how long it'll take but I'll look out for y'all

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Oh fuck off.

― Venga (Venga), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Martian, can you quit it with the "funny" remarks, they're not helping at all, numbnuts

― chris/porkpie/cabbage, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

I would have to walk through Central London to get to Islington... argh. Though I could do with a drink, it's the reverse direction for me. Anyone want a drink in Holborn/Bloomsbury?

Useless statistics alert:

According to blog tracking service Technorati, there were more than 1,300 posts about the blasts by 10.15am this morning, just an hour after the first report of emergency services being called to Liverpool Street station.

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Vodafone apparently switched off lines so emergency services, government people etc(they have special chips in their phones) can get access easy.
Plus with the amount of people using the phones to find out everyone is ok can block lines.
Also some people just leave phones at home by accident etc.

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

Just walked home from Docklands, was surreal doing temp agency tests while trying to listen to tinny office radio. When I left house everything was already mental (after news of two explosions), I must have got one of the last DLRs. Magnitude of it all only beginning to sink in now as I catch up, glad everyone's OK.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

All I can say is I'm glad I walk most places when and if I can!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

This according to SKy news btw

xpost

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

The Prodigy's Brixton Academy gig has been called off, while a decision about Blue at Wembley has yet to be made.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4660673.stm

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

Hello, ilx.

The fatalities - any fatalities - in London as a result of what happened are terrible.

Like you, I expect, I have been thinking many thoughts, and a lot of them have been about the failure of the war on terror so far, the resounding sense that the attack on Iraq was a terrible distraction of resources and energy away from the real threat - as well as, possibly, a provocation to / breeding ground for terrorists. It infuriates me that if this point is put to T Blair, he will say 'I don't accept that we shouldn't do what we think is right just because we are scared of the consequences', or something - which sounds true and hard to argue with, even though he and his policy have been proved wrong.

I was moved by a snatch of speech from Ken Livingstone.

― the pinefox, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

Matt I'll meet you in the Red Lion in half an hour or so?

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

Sky news is reporting that an emergency news conference is starting within minutes.

So perhaps there will be more information confirmed here.

btw how are people in London going to get home from work?

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

(FYI: American media is certainly shoping Livingstone's response around; I herad it on a ClearChannel station as I was taking my morning shower.)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Patrick Mercer's tone on News24 is oddly odious.

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

I'll be out of here by four. See anyone in the area in the Red Lion.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

some overground train services are running a limited service. Lots of us will have to work. Buses are only suspended in zone 1, but I imagine that it will have messed up the rest of the service

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

I am so so glad everyone is alright. NPR is really stressing the connection to G8...

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

I hope Liz shows up soon and I hope everyone's friends and family are okay.

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

I'm now being told to go home. Will wait until 3.30/4pm though.

Man, I want a drink but I should probably stay compis mentis for the long walk home, and find a friend in Brixton to drink with.

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

Because it happened on 7/7 we aren't going to confuse Americans if we refer to today like that in the future I guess.

Yeah, but it'll still sound like a call on CB radio. Breaker one-niner, we got a situation, uh, it's a seven-seven!

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

Radio 1 now playing "Where Is The Love".

Too soon.

To be fair to Radio 1, Colin Murray did apologise afterwards & said that it was impossible to vet every song they're playing.

Damn Poxy fule message, still no word from Liz?

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

I am delighted to see that a popular response to this event is to go out for a thoroughly secular drink. I intend to wallow in Western decadence this weekend and maybe go to a strip joint with some Zionists or sumthin'.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:27 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i hope liz is just at a pub somewhere sharing her lunch and cake with people...

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:27 (twenty years ago)

Is adamrl's family okay? I know he's from Edgware.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

33 fatalities plus the bus confirmed.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

33 confirmed dead figures not available from the bus bomb.(but was earlier reported as an unnoficial figure of 7.

21 of the dead was at Kings Cross

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

OMG at "Where Is The Love?"!!!!!!!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Edgeware or Edgeware Rd?

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

Is there any reason to think Liz might have been in the vicinity of any of these events? I hope we hear from her very soon.

Edgware Road, Mzui.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

Now that my brain is settling down, very good to hear everyone's alright (and I'm sure Liz is good too). Much love to yer good selves.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

To mirror my thoughts as I walked through the panic here four years ago, it should've been Number 10.

And that could be the sound of Malcolm X's chickens.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

Liz works right by Russell Square. I'm really worried.

Matt, Steve, I'd like to meet you guys for a drink in Angel but I probably won't get out of work until 6. Will you still be there?

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

Yes, good to hear you all are safe, first thing I did when I heard the news was to go check ILX..

― daria g (daria g), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Hearing the casualties being confirmed in the news conference is plain fucking depressing. Good luck to all you lot getting around later on.

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Glad to hear the lot of you are all right, and I hope your loved ones are safe and well, too.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:33 (twenty years ago)

Probably not me Marianna as it could take me an hour or two to get home, sorry dude :(

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Marianna - I suspect so. I want to stay cossetted for as long as possible, watching this unfold in the media rather than actually having to walk through it and see things with my own eyes. It all depends though. I'll try and text if I leave.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad you're all okay. My mom's in England with her friends and I can't get through to them. They're staying in Wiltshire (?) so I'm just hoping the phone lines are all screwy over there right now. Fucking hell, what a fright scene. Can't help but have flashbacks to the WTC.

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

had my first cup of tea for the day, and i feel loads better.

(i think this is caffeine related helping my headache, rather than becoming english, but read it how you will)

xpost-- i might wander down to the pub, if i'm feeling better, but wouldn't be till 5 or so, i expect.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

They're staying in Wiltshire

Rest easy, that's nowhere near London!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

BBC docu last year:

Britain's Suicide Bombers: The Real Story, 7.30pm, BBC ONE, Monday 5 April 2004
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/04_april/05/suicide_bombers.shtml

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

love and support to ILXors and others

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

>Which means that al Qaeda is even craftier than America ever gave them credit for.<

Basically, any yahoos with bombs can call themselves Al Qaeda. Don't play into Dubya's hand before the facts are known (if they ever are).
Glad all of you seem to be well.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Hope nobody lost anyone. Luv y'all.

― dave q (listerine), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

LONDON (AP) — London transport officials say limited London underground and bus service expected to resume Thursday night.

― stet (stet), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

DLR is winding back up apparently too.

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:38 (twenty years ago)

jeanne, wiltshire is miles and miles away - she'll be totally fine, rest easy

― stelf)XXXX, Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:38 (twenty years ago)

Hi everyone,

I've read through the threads now and I'm so glad to you all are OK. I am desperate to hear from Liz - I'm sure she's fine, but I will not rest until I have heard her (or someone on her behalf) check in.

I'm following the news here in Toronto and it's horrifying. I've only just left London, so a big part of me feels like I am there with you all. I send you all a big hug from across the Atlantic.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

Thank you folks so much for the geographical info. My tremors are slowly easing up.

― Je4nne ƒur¥ (Je4nne Fury), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:40 (twenty years ago)

If Liz is working nr Russell Square, chances are, her office has been evacuated and so she's not near landlines or computers so has to rely on mobiles which we know are shot to hell in London right now.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

I've just rang wagn i cant get home tonight, no trains no rail replacement service avaliable at all- phoned my dad, gonna spend an extra hour at work while he gets from his work to mine, and take me home, i'm lucky loads of work pals are having to stay in lesuire centre/car/friends house or if they can afford it a hotel.

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

Big queues for public callboxes too I imagine.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

Right I'm off to the Red Lion Theatre pub in Angel now. Take care people.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

Right, I'm heading off home now. No idea how long this is going to take.

― MIS Information (kate), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

I've been told that every hotel in London is booked up with people who don't expect to be able to get home.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

Terminal 3 at Heathrow evacuated?

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

Big queues for public callboxes too I imagine.

Most of which won't be working no doubt

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

I think I'm going to set off for home soon - I guess I'll walk up Tottenham Court Road across Euston Road in search of some buses heading vaguely my way, Holloway or Finsbury Park or some such. I suspect it might all take a long time, and I'll be offline during that period. If anyone who has my mobile number hears news of Liz before I appear here again, a quick text/call would be very gratefully received.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

Take care you guys! *hugs*

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

pointing good thoughts towards london today – be well y'all

― jones (actual), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

((((((hugs)))))))))) take crea guysxx

ohhh just received security awareness e-mail from work:

ollowing the events earlier today Police advice

Can I remind all staff to be aware of any unattended baggage/handbags & report
any suspicious vehicles. Please also keep Council Buildings secure by making sure
the door codes not disclosed and unauthorised people do not follow you
through doors and challenge strangers in corridors.
Please wear your security badge at all times.

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

Hey London ILXors.... I'm happy to hear that everyone is safe. Thinking of all of you and continue to be well.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

Glad to hear most of you are fine, hope very very much that Liz is all right!

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

I find myself making odd gut analyses at times like this. Right now I'm thinking the good thing about this is that London was going to be hit sooner or later, and that horrible as this is, it isn't as bad as it could have been, but was successful enough, from the perpetrators' point of view, for them to feel like London has been "done" for a while.

Of course one could argue that one success will actually make another attack more likely, but I guess the lack of a major post-9/11 attack on New York leads me to that way of thinking.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

i'm keeping ILX minimized on the computer today while pretending to work. hope everyone and their families are okay

― joseph (joseph), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:55 (twenty years ago)

It appears that it definitely could have been a lot lot worse and, personally, I have a strange sensation of "Well at least that's that out of the way, we should be alright for a while yet".

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

hope everyone and their families are okay

likewise. Take care, everyone.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

I feel slightly guilty for having had the same thought.

The timing of this, it all feels so surreal - like with Live 8 and the Olympics and even the G8 Summit the eyes of the world have been on the UK and London in particular for ages. I've still got a paper on my desk with pictures of all the frenzied celebrations in London - how can things change so much in 24 hours?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

Oof

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

it worries me that we could be lulled into a false sense of security that this is the worst and its over, we dont know this for sure and there could be more of its way, this for all we know could just be a taster, thats what scares me.

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

The other reason I'm going to the pub is that I'm avoiding rush hour.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

God, I was in the paper shop lunchtime, all the papers with the "Hoooray London Olympics" union jack joy, yep thought the same thing.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Anyway, I'm off - when Liz turns up can someone text me?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

actually i had a dream a while ago that i was shopping in trocadero, with two pals, and suddenly there was this loud noise- glass everywhere- i was on the floor screaming as i watched a pregnant woman in front of me be torn to shreads by the glass, i was crying as well, and screaming for everyone to get away, i awoke cryoing my eyes out, only to look at my alarm clock that said 9.11am, it totally freaked me out i know it was just a dream but it felt scarily realistic, so i called my friends told them to stay away from trocadero.

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

xpost - My mum is arguing the same thing, I suspect there's a lot of "It could just be a phase in their incredibly complicated plans!" about, it's all bollocks, it always is.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

HELPLINE NUMBER: 0870 15 66 344

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for asking Jocelyn, but my family are fine, and live in Edgware proper, which is some way from Edgware Rd tube. That said, my dad commutes to Edgware Road and works a few blocks from there...but he is fine.

Hope everyone's okay. I just booked my tickets home last night! :\

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

I know this might sound strange, but it's 8am here and I've only just heard about this getting into work...what EXACTLY happened? The BBC reports are very confusing.

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

another american checking in - our TV here says terrorists are to blame - and that all public trasnpoert is closed and will remain so until well past your evening rush hour to clear for bombs. You'll have to see if you can walk. DONT TAKE BUSSES!!!! If you see one in operation - don't get on it. They think more bombs may be planted. Please everyone just get home and stay in away from crowded areas. They say 45 at least are dead, from underground bombs, but then as soon as the people came out from the tube stations bombs went off ABOVE ground in a bus or two. Please stay safe. This is so messed up.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

i can recall having very similar paranoid thoughts on 9/11. "what's next?"

you've got our sympathies and best hopes....
m.

― msp (mspa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

My best to all Londoners, ILX or otherwise.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Do you mind if we (okay, they) don't trust your television on these matters?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

my local NPR affiliate broadcasts the BBC in the morning and waking up to this was very surreal -- it parallels my experience the morning of the WTC attacks.

i hope all the UK ilxors are safe and sound. im glad to see y'all are checking in on the threads. my heart goes out to everyone abroad right now.

i feel creepy using the WTC attacks as a frame of reference but its all ive got to help ease your fears. remember that in NYC tons of people had to walk home due to mass transit being out of service. new york isnt as tiny as one would think [ditto for london!], some of my friends had walks that took hours. if she works close to one of the targeted areas, she's probably more concerned with getting home safely. which is something we certainly want.

liz, we all hope you are OK!

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

how can things change so much in 24 hours?

Precisely what I was thinking when I heard about this.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

I know this might sound strange, but it's 8am here and I've only just heard about this getting into work...what EXACTLY happened? The BBC reports are very confusing.

8.51AM: Seven people are killed in an explosion on a Circle or Central line train 100 yards from Liverpool Street Underground station.

The blast happens in the region of Moorgate, Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations.

8.56AM: A total of 21 people are killed following a blast on the Underground close to Russell Square and King's Cross stations.

9.15AM: First report from the Press Association of emergency services called to London's Liverpool Street Station to reports of an explosion

9.17AM: Five people are killed in an explosion at Edgware Road Underground station. Police said a blast ripped through a carriage, a wall and into two other trains.

9.24AM: British Transport Police say there are reports of one person suffering a life-threatening injury and several "walking wounded".

9.33AM: All London Underground services are suspended - the network says it as the result of a power fault across the network.

9.33AM: London Underground tells the Press Association there has been "another incident at Edgware Road" station.

9.40AM: British Transport Police say power surge incidents - some causing explosions - have occurred on the Underground at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations.

9.47AM: An unknown number of people die when an explosion tears through the back of the number 30 Hackney to Marble Arch bus. The blast happens at the junction of Woburn Square and Tavistock Place.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

i walked from angel to dalston - matt dc's micro-fap call to the red lion came a bit late!! - and then got on a 38 to hackney central

38s in the other direction all stoppng at mildmay road: assume other routes have similar turnaround

(oh and i seem to have reinstalled the internet at home ok) (so ned we liaise for monday online)

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

All the rail stations underground have been cleared of dead and injured. they are now clearing the busses one by one to make sure there are no bombs or people with bombs - they want to get them up and running so you guys can get home, but only away from the blast areas. How awful for you. My deepest heartfelt sympathy to all you Londoners. This is just sickening.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

http://flickr.com/groups/bomb/pool/

― fe zaffe (fezaffe), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

Adam when are you over?
what EXACTLY happened?
Synopsis: It seems there were (suicide?) bombs at tube stations or on trains in tunnels in or at Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Edgware Rd, Aldgate East, King's Cross/Russell Sq and one explosion on the top deck of a bus at Tavistock Sq. The first reports were of a power failure on the tube (what they announced on the tube this morning) and then it became clear they're bombs, obviously.

And L and S are at my flat watching the news and eating all my food!

multiple xpost

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

horrible, but OTM.

― piscesboy, Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

Adam when are you over?

First two weeks of september.

And L and S are at my flat watching the news and eating all my food!

Tell them I said hi!

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

will do

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

From a Kids charity:

Explosions in London

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM PARENTS ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT CHILDREN FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSIONS IN LONDON
provided by Winston’s Wish
http://www.winstonswish.org.uk/Follow.asp?menucode=000200010012

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

That thing Dr C linked to (http://www.pfff.co.uk/weblog/)

Was anyone else's first thought "This is no time for acrostics".

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

(haha yes.)

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

(so ned we liaise for monday online)

Grand, yes -- let's chat and figure out. Since I'm supposed to be using King's Cross station obv this means some planning.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

just heard the news cause i only got in right now. hope London ilxors are alright

shit, liverpool st. station was where i was when i heard the omagh bomb went off. i have relatives to check on

― fcuss3n, Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad everyone is okay, if shaken. Craziness. I'm worried about Liz too, but hope there's some truth in my image of her holed up in a pub with beer and pork pies. Take care, everyone!
(And thanks for the S!nister post, Carsmile.)

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

http://www.boingboing.net/images/moblog_c5e3bfbeddbfb.jpg

― no tech! (ex machina), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

How many times has that pic (or links to it) been posted on these threads now?

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

http://photos23.flickr.com/24255292_21305d0526.jpg?v=0

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

There have also been reports of an explosion on Houndsditch in the City of London, near Liverpool Street station, with a police officer reporting pulling people out of a bus there.[7] Additional reports indicate that there have been unspecified incidents at Brighton, Luton, and Swindon. These stations have been closed and there has been no official confirmation of the nature of the incidents, if any actually occurred. BBC World reported that the stations had been evacuated due to "security incidents". East Croydon station is also closed.

In Brighton there was a controlled explosion of a suspicious briefcase at approximately 12:55 PM local time in a telephone box outside of Brighton station. The brief case was later found to be harmless, and the station was re-opened.

There have been reports of a controlled explosion at Coventry bus station.

― no tech! (ex machina), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

My brother was meant to be DJing in Brighton tonight and had to cancel everything.

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

x-post where abouts in Luton?

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

My brother was meant to be DJing in Brighton tonight and had to cancel everything.

-- I Named Veal (adamr...), July 7th, 2005.

I should think so too. He has lives to save tonight.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

I wish sky would tak off their breaking news graphic, I keep looking up and thinking that something else has happened.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

Classic:

The internet
Public service broadcasting

Dud:

24 hr TV news networks

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

CBC news in Toronto just described the tube as "squeezing through London like toothpaste out of a toothpaste tube." A map then pinpointed London as being in the middle of the Meditteranean.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

a vastly respected journalistic colleague with extensive experience of military/defence/terrorism matters thinks the bus explosion was a mistake, not a suicide bomber: perhaps someone carrying explosives from/to a tube-station attack? after all, he says, you're not going to blow up the back of a bus; you'd go for the centre. and if you're going to do one bus, why not do more?

his entire thinking on this whole matter has been so sensible and informed that i think this theory is plausible.

i have to say: american television advising people not to take buses etc is the craziest, most counter-intuitive and scaremongering thing i've heard in some time. surely the chance of more attacks today - or, as others have pointed out upthread - is actually less than it's been for years?

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

sorry, my last post got garbled. should say:

"surely the chance of more attacks today - or, as others have pointed out upthread, at any time in the near future - is actually less than it's been for years?"

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

Grimly, stop second-guessing our government and plz get back to being vigilant.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

a vastly respected journalistic colleague with extensive experience of military/defence/terrorism matters thinks the bus explosion was a mistake, not a suicide bomber: perhaps someone carrying explosives from/to a tube-station attack? after all, he says, you're not going to blow up the back of a bus; you'd go for the centre. and if you're going to do one bus, why not do more?

That totally makes sense. Surely you'd do more buses.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

a vastly respected journalistic colleague with extensive experience of military/defence/terrorism matters thinks the bus explosion was a mistake, not a suicide bomber

This has happened before, with the IRA.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

hmm yes the more i think about the back of the bus being blown up, this theory totally makes sense.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

For the sake of keeping speculation and fact separate, there's this thread for all the theorizing and guesswork, and this talk about the bus stuff shd probably move there:

Analysis/readtion to official responses to the Explosions in London.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

Cis e-mailed me to check on you all. She sends her love and thoughts.

― BARMS, Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

i was actually on the first thread when it started at around 4:30 am (my time), and i got that sinking feeling.

much love, london, very glad to hear all ilxors ok so far.

― g e o f f (gcannon), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

sorry david: just got wound up by american TV, that's all.

i feel like the world's least useful journalist today. as london is in chaos and the most powerful people in the world (TM) meet just up the A9, i'm sitting in glasgow working on ... a fashion spread.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

One of the religious fruit loops phoning in to a live show here reckons the Lord told her about the attacks last night, pity she didn't think to tell anyone else.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

I agree with N. that 'it could have been worse', though those fatalities that have occurred are terrible.

I like what N. says re. acrostics.

The front page of the Guardian - people celebrating the Olympics and 'one sweet word - London' - has been nastily undercut or overshadowed, I agree.

D Boyle: News24 is part of a public service broadcasting corporation.

― the pinefox, Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

pf - good spot.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

good bye everyone i'm off home take crea y'all, i might be some time, god knows it might all be on foot....hmmm

― battlingspacemonkey (battlingspacemonkey), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

american television advising people not to take buses etc is the craziest, most counter-intuitive and scaremongering thing i've heard in some time.

Of course. Most Americans frown upon public transport!

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

I agree with N. that 'it could have been worse', though those fatalities that have occurred are terrible.

Of course it could have been worse, and I'm very thankful that it wasn't, but let's not go letting that be an excuse for not being upset. This is unsettling as hell. This hit me really hard this morning. This is bad. Let's please remember that.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

If only segways didn't get recalled.

xxxpost)

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Take care, BSM. xpost

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

Je4nne, I am about two miles out of Wiltshire (most of my coworkers live there, though probably not very near where your folks are) and all is fine here except that rail transport is disrupted.

(The main railway station in Wiltshire is one of the ones that was closed - nothing happened there, so as far as anyone knows it's just a precautionary measure, probably after some unattended luggage was found. But that station isn't at the end of Wilts that people generally choose to visit, so I'd guess your mom is further southwest, and even further from London.)

Hope everyone and their loved ones are ok; take care...

― Rebecca (reb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

i'm sitting in glasgow working on ... a fashion spread.

If Kelly C00per Barr's work is interrupted then the terrorists have won, Simon.

We were highly amused down here to find that the G8 magazine we produced for the delegates featured a KCB fashion spread for the first ladies. The model's hand was slightly hovering around the usual area, but a bit more innocently.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Most Americans frown upon public transport!

American media is busy explaining the significance of public transportation to its non-metropolitan audience

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

American media is busy explaining the significance of public transportation to its non-metropolitan audience

Seriously, some of the kids here give me weird looks if I talk about taking a bus to something.

― no tech! (ex machina), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

haha

"Those poor bastards desreve it! Get a car, morans!"

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

If only they hadn't lived in an urban area, none of this would have happened.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

Yes, it's bad. That's why I said it was terrible.

― the pinefox, Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Not about you in particular, just a general sort-of trend I was addressing. Nipping it in the bud, so to speak.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

sorry londoners. glad to hear y'all are ok. thotz go out to those that aren't.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

The pictures of that bus look fucked up... I wonder how many were aboard, because that thing looks totalled.

― andy --, Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

I hope y'all and your families are all okay... xox

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

i hope that all ilxors -- as well as their families and loved ones -- are safe and accounted for.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

If only they hadn't lived in an urban area, none of this would have happened.

This reminds me of a viewer e-mail that CNN aired two years ago that ran along the lines of "Yes, the 9/11 terror attacks were sad, but at least it's causing people to move away from the cities so fewer will die when the next one happens."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

God help us if substantial numbers of Americas think this is plausible.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

I don't know why it hasn't occurred to me to say this before, but the thought has only just struck me: Fuck them. Really, fuck them. I'm fucking angry. Those fuckers.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Well in a completely bizzaro twist, local news is reporting that two Knoxville, TN girls on vacation were hurt in the blasts.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Whew -- for a second there the server wouldn't let me on. I'm thinking: "THEY HIT ILX!!! BASTARDS!!!"

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

the ilx server is in australia.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

So what's the anger level in England right now towards Blair? Is he being blamed? Is Bush?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

I don't know why it hasn't occurred to me to say this before, but the thought has only just struck me: Fuck them. Really, fuck them. I'm fucking angry. Those fuckers.

-- Mädchen (madchen_in_unifor...), July 7th, 2005.

Believe it or not, I live outside NYC, but it's taken me until this year to feel much of anything about 9/11 -- both anger and fear. I've been having nightmares about terrorism all of the sudden, and on July 4, when the fireworks were about to start, I had a near panic-attack on the Jersey City waterfront and was damn near leaving.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad everyone is okay so far. My thoughts are with you.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

So what's the anger level in England right now towards Blair? Is he being blamed? Is Bush?

Difficult to judge any collective mood just yet. I think it's going to take some time.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

You can't really blame Blair or Bush. The people who did this have an agenda, and have had an agenda for a long time. They are opportunists, and will use anything that suits them as a justification.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, the collective mood is probably going to be "omgwtf" for a while.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I guess shock and anger toward al Quaeda come first. See you all tomorrow.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

So what's the anger level in England right now towards Blair? Is he being blamed? Is Bush?

-- Paunchy Stratego (fluxion2...), July 7th, 2005.

oddly I don't feel any kind of anger toward the Government or Blair. I just keep glumly thinking about how much worse this is going to make the war in Iraq. If anything it will serve to escalate Britains presence, nobody "wins".

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:46 (twenty years ago)

You can't really blame Blair or Bush. The people who did this have an agenda, and have had an agenda for a long time. They are opportunists, and will use anything that suits them as a justification.

Yeah, I know that, but do people?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:46 (twenty years ago)

Maybe I'm making the mistake of thinking Brits are as knee-jerk reactive as Americans.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

I feel angry towards the nameless, faceless fuckers who think doing this kind of thing is right. The words and actions of politicians might stir things up but the blame ultimately rests with the people who made and set off the bombs. Of course it does.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

sympathies and prayers and hoping for the best fate for all victims and families, as well as the response.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

Well, anyway, I'm really sorry to hear about it. Don't be ashamed or afraid to be upset or angry. I think I tried to be too cool after the attacks, when deep down I was pretty afraid.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

So what's the anger level in England right now towards Blair?

Blair has had a spectacularly good run recently, climaxing in his part in winning the Olympic bid. It will depend on whst happens next few days but I think he'll escape relatively unscathed from it.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

xpost

I was openly terrified on 9/11. Pants-shitting scared. If you weren't, you were a fool.

I re-experienced a bit of that at about 4:30am my time. It was terrible.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

I predict that the Sun and the right-wing papers will:

- call for the reintroduction of the death penalty (missing the point about _suicide_ bombing)

- say that they have no quibble with islam, and the vast majority of decent law-abiding muslims. However, immigration makes this sort of thing more likely.

- lots of reaction from readers (not the papers, natch) saying 'hang them' and 'send them back'.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

Just heard from someone that people working right near Russell Square are being held in their offices; they've been there for 7 hours and the interweb is done. I'm hoping this is why there's no Liz news.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

has anyone heard from liz?

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

- say that they have no quibble with islam, and the vast majority of decent law-abiding muslims. However, immigration makes this sort of thing more likely.

Jesus. No doubt on this one.

Brits : immigration :: Americans : abortion

I guess everyone needs a National Red Herring, eh?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

I think the bombing will further entrench already-held positions about the Iraq war, in the UK. Some of those who opposed it (such as Galloway) have already implied that the war "caused" this bombing. Conversely, those who supported the war would cite the violence as a reason to further attack and supress Al-Quada and weaken them, especially in Iraq.

― AdrianB (AdrianB), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

man, sometimes I just hate humanity. we are all so very fucked.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

If you weren't, you were a fool.

I guess I was a fool.

Kenan, you seem to be policing these threads to make sure that people aren't allowed be less terrified than you, including criticizing the pinefox (who, you know, actually lives in London) for applying a bit of perspective. Tell us, is there any chance you'd fuck off for a bit?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Hey guys calm down.

I must say I was annoyed a Galloway just now. It's too early to be saying that kind of stuff (even though I agree with him)

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

I was openly terrified on 9/11. Pants-shitting scared. If you weren't, you were a fool.

I was somewhat scared but not pants-shitting scared. Marcello was pretty OTM when he described his feeling today as "bemusedly shocked but somehow getting on with it."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

Rather, to clarify, I mean Marcello's feeling today matched my own on 9/11.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

i've been impressed by british response so far. relatively calm and stoic. but i guess that's the brits for you. bless. the most crazed emotion i saw was from an american tourist eyewitness.
i think blair will do well. and livingstone.

― dahlin (dahlin), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

Jeez, Andrew. Ok. I will indeed fuck off.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, okay. I will modify my language to the suggestion that both myself and Kenan could do with some time away from the thread. Which I'll get as soon as Liz checks in (which is 90% of why I'm this twitchy).

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

(Also sorry Kenan)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

andrew, that's not how i've been reading kenan's posts at all...i think there's something to the idea that being in another country makes the whole thing more abstract/weird/scary/mysterious, that seemed to be the case with my parents and people i've talked to in the states. there's nothing wrong with someone saying they've had a serious and unexpected reaction to all this, and i haven't read anything he's said as an attack on people not feeling enough (although i'm sure there'll be plenty of people with that attitude in the bigger world, from experience)

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

I don't live in London, but my first thought was "Londoners can deal with this hit no problem." The sentiments from Livingstone and Blair have been OTM. Lets see how long this lasts though. Blair will no doubt use this as an argument to push through ID cards.

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

I was openly terrified on 9/11. Pants-shitting scared. If you weren't, you were a fool.

I re-experienced a bit of that at about 4:30am my time. It was terrible.

-- Paunchy Stratego (fluxion2...), July 7th, 2005.

Well, sure, on the day of, because the attack was like nothing I'd ever heard of before. I didn't know if there were more on the way, I didn't know, at first, if there might have been some kind of bio or chemical weapon on board the plane, etc.

After the dust settled though, so to speak, I think I was more angry at all the newsprint flags than I was at the terrorists, which is probably not really a healthy response. Like I said, it was only later that my feelings sort of straightened out on that. Come to think of it though, there have been other, intermittent periods since then that I've panicked about terrorism -- on trains to NYC or things like that.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, the reaction from most people I've seen today has been kinda "Isn't that terrible?", I've not noticed any panicked running, and the public transport was still full on my way back... different national psyches innit?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I think I was more shocked about the events in Madrid and NY. Obviosuly being at a safe distance helps but I think growing up hearing about terrorist attacks in London means I'm somewhat conditioned to it.

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

xxxpost

I woke up very early to this news, and because of this news, and that weird middle-of-the-night half-dream horror is still with me. I'm sorry, Andrew. I know people feel different things, and I know I can be overbearing about my emotions sometimes.

(Ok, all the time.)

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

"...applying a bit of perspective."

noting that this is the worst attack on British soil since WWII should apply a bit of perspective. I mean, how many people died in the bliztkrieg?

to me, beyond the terrible sadness at the pointless loss of life, that sadness is compounded by knowing that on the larger political scale it just means both sides are going to dig in even further into their already misguided, completely unethical, wrong-headed positions. Each is going to manipulate it for maximum effect, basically just prolonging the conflict and making the likelihood of future attacks even greater. I'm not sure if I am angrier at the "terrorists" or the people in power who effectively enable the terrorists.... (do I blame the US soldier in Iraq for shooting a child, or do I blame the asshole who sent him there and convinced him that shooting a child was the right thing to do?)

x-post

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

it just means both sides are going to dig in even further into their already misguided, completely unethical, wrong-headed positions

Ok, so I'm not confusing Brits with Americans. Ok.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

I was openly terrified on 9/11. Pants-shitting scared. If you weren't, you were a fool.

I wasn't scared, but I was very concerned about the future -- for reasons that have become apparent with each regressive action of the Bush administration. Today's explosions outright shocked me, though.

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

was more sad and numb than pants-shitting scared on 9/11. and i was across the river from the WTC on that day.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

Interestingly both madrid and NYC produced people standing on street corners holding candles and, in the case of NYC, singing god bless america (or at least the only line that anyone could remember). That was very freaky and unnerving, I've not heard of anything like that in London yet. I guess people are still trying to get home.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

If you weren't, you were a fool.

...unless you lived in the sticks, like me. I may as well have been in another country, to be honest.

I was more nervous this time, since I actually know quite a few people in London (as opposed to NYC).

― giboyeux (skowly), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

When Liz finally does check in, can someone pleaase start a "Liz has checked in" thread? Otherwise, that news will be buried within this thread and people may miss it. People really are concerned...

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

I didn't get any strong reaction till much later after 9/11. I watched the second plane hit the WTC from a rooftop about 5 blocks away and saw people jump from the building. My reaction was to get myself and my friends the fuck out of there. I ran down the stairs grabbed them and some money, swigged from the gin bottle, made for the ground floor persuaded a stuck cab driver that he really wanted to do a U-Turn and go up town. It was a few nights before I had un-numbed enough to cry. I've never felt fear during one of these attacks though. Fear is futile, it is impossible to avoid one of these things if it happens on your tube train or your bus or your building.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

I can't say why this was somehow worse for me. Not "worse," but just enough less totally terrifying that I was able to react. And that was bad.

Hey, if I haven't said so already, I really hope you're all okay. Especially Liz. I love all of you Londoners.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Seconded. That's the main reason I'm on ILX right now.

(I am tempted to suggest someone arranges a list of mobiles to text when we get news, for people (like me) who have to go offline. I'm not sure if people would think that would be going too far)

(xpost)

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I admit I'm getting uneasy myself re: Liz. Mike will remember how I felt on 9/11 when we hadn't heard from him yet.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Sorry for the OT'ness but GW's quote on the bbc website really irked me. Just fuck off George. Though I guess that goes without saying

The contrast between what we've seen on the TV screens here, what's taking place in London and what's taking place here [at G8 summit] is incredibly vivid to me.

On the one hand you've got people here who are working to alleviate poverty and to help rid the world of the pandemic of Aids. They're working on ways to have a clean environment and on the other hand you have people killing innocent people.

The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty and those who kill.

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

Steve - it's on-topic here:

Analysis/readtion to official responses to the Explosions in London.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

YEAH THAT FUCKING GALLED ME. HE'S FUCKING WORKING TALKING POINTS INTO THIS SHIT. IT'S LIKE SOME KIND OF HABIT WITH HIM.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

Mobile networks are still mostly down. I'm alright (not that anyone knows who I am). I worked at Russell Square for years, and used to either come in on the Piccadilly line or on a bus which would go down Woburn Place, so I'm feeling a bit spooked, but everyone I know seems to be OK (even if they have had to walk 8 miles home).

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

for me the weirdest thing about hearing Dubya speak is that pretty much everything he says could come out of the mouths of his "enemies". I mean, his rhetoric is identical to that of the opposition, he just doesn't understand that HE is also someone who "kills innocent people" while others work on "ways to have a clean environment"... it's this completely warped perspective. "The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty and those who kill" - this could be straight from the mouth of any Dubya hater.

(btw Paunchy I'm American - not sure I understood yr post responding to me)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

OTM to da extreeeeem

― matlewis, Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

I just can't stand hearind Dubya speak about ANYTHING. Even when he's right about anything, he says it in the most insincere, shit-eating tone. I really wish he'd just fuck right off.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

I've updated the initial post with a link to that thread too. If people could put the analysis there then it would be nice, at least until we know for sure that Liz is safe. At the moment I think quite a lot of people are clicking when they see a new answer hoping it'll be that and they don't honestly care too much about what Dubya did or didn't say.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

his team has formulated a remarkably consistent and impermeable doublespeak that he never deviates from.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

Yes apologies Tom, I had not seen that thread. I have revived.

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

(yes sorry off to the other thread)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

i almost always get the piccadilly through kings cross

this morning i got the victoria, and went through at around the same time

it seems a long time ago now

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

However, Shakey, I saw and heard him on TV utter those words and what struck me wasn't how deaf he is to his own cant but, rather, that he sounded like he does believe what he's saying. I can't say what I find more depressing in the end: the image of Bush as master manipulator of the weak minded or king of the weak minded himself.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

i'm glad you're ok gareth. i was really worried for ya. as well as just random uk people in general.

xpost analyze on other thred, pls.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:37 (twenty years ago)

i agree that it's worth starting a new thread when liz appears, if people want to know and are going offline, worth emailing a couple people their mobile numbers, in case there's news soon?

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

I would offer (to be the person who texts) but I'll be away for a bit, while I travel home.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

If there's someone who will be here for the next few hours, but doesn't want to text a dozen people, I could give them my number, people could give me their number. It's a little complicated, mind.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

I used to work right next to Tavistock Place. No doubt some of my former co-workers have been caught up in everything.

I have just heard from the last of my friends and they were all okay. One friend lives right between Liverpool St and Aldgate East but slept through the whole thing.

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

(ok, have to leave. will think happy thoughts for liz and rob)

― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

I am reminded of "I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?"

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

I am reminded of "I've just had a Brazilian friend on the phone saying 'Why aren't you lot all out on the streets, dancing saying and playing music [as we Brazilians would be]'?"

That would be an amazing reaction, though I guess there would be many who wouldn't take it that way.

― Steve.n. (sjkirk), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

It would certainly wrongfoot the terrorists.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

"Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The heroic mujaheddin carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to w— hang on a minute no, they are dancing in the streets to samba music. Curses!"

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

I don't know why it hasn't occurred to me to say this before, but the thought has only just struck me: Fuck them. Really, fuck them. I'm fucking angry. Those fuckers.

Hear, hear, Madchën.

― stevo (stevo), Thursday, 7 July 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

still no news on Liz?!

I don't think she has the internet at home, if mobile networks are still down she might not be able to contact people.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

I can't get over how wrong headed these attacks are. They impress the most blindly embittered part of the Muslim world and everybody else thinks they're just the deranged acts of homicidal sociopaths. Will this behavior change Western behavior wrt Afghanistan? No. Wrt Iraq? Maybe, but Iraq is all amuddle right now anyway. Will terrorism change the West's behavior toward Israel and the occupied territories or toward the Gulf monarchies? Not likely. To me it just looks like the desperate actions of people whose history and whose ideology have left them increasingly marginalized by modern developments.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 7 July 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

Meanwhile, over in the cunting cuntland of Cuntville

― kingfish (Kingfish), Thursday, 7 July 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

hey kids, most busses running through north london now, packed but frequent, the driver on our 19 from angel to finsbury park was THE NICEST BUS DRIVER EVER, letting loads of people on and chatting away "no money today" etc. made me feel loads better.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:04 (twenty years ago)

I walked up as far as Camden before just managing to squeeze onto a bus to Finsbury Park, then after two full ones, the third got me home. Two and a half hours, as opposed to the usual 45 minutes.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

ironicaly - I got home the quickest I ever have from work, the 406 was the quietest I've seen it in ages

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

I'm trying to work out whether or not to be worried about a friend of mine - he lives in Stratford and works in the BBC Subtitling department - would his journey to work have been likely to have gone via the bomb sites? I've texted and emailed him to no avail, but I'd not seen him online for a while anyhow and he was mugged earlier this week, so I don't know that his mobile number would still work.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

he's probably just incredibly bloody busy at work, if he does subtitling

― dahlin (dahlin), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I suppose so. I've just tried ringing his number and been told it's out of service, so my text couldn't have got through anyhow. Just have to wait for him to get back to me then.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

I've been hearing this on the news all day and don't want to take up a lot of space, but just hope everyone is all right.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)

Watch the tele - maybe he'll put up a message that says "I'm fine, stop texting!"

xpost

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

OTMest ever. (I will now retreat back to the "discussion" thread)

― giboyeux (skowly), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

those messages on the bottom of the screen confuse me. what, is everyone in london going to send messages to their mum letting them know they're ok? are they successful?

― dahlin (dahlin), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

i walked from gt p'land st to highgate in 80min -- i've had longer bus journeys.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:53 (twenty years ago)

Who is this cunt?

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)

That depends where the BBC subtitling dept is. If it's at Shepherds Bush then he probably just got the central line, so he would have been safe. Probably had a long walk home, though. My wife walked from Borough to Crouch End (8 or 9 miles?) and I think that was fairly typical.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Biography by Andy Kellman

B2K's Omarion went solo in 2005 with O, featuring production help from the Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins, and the Underdogs. The title track, released as the lead single, helped send the album to the top of the Billboard chart. Also an actor, Omarion appeared in the movie version of Fat Albert, You Got Served, and The Bernie Mac Show.

and yes, apparently a self-absorbed cunt

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

Just spent almost an hour going thru all two threads...

Chances are great that Liz is fine.. she may be inconvenienced right now, or may just not have access to ILX for various reasons - which could happen on any normal day, mind you - and probably aggravated by the chaos today.

Just trying to keep things optimistic.. and obviously since I met a lot of you a little over a year ago, you guys get all my HUG POWAH! to ease those nerves.

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

so has anyone been/heard from russell sq or wherever liz might have been? is it still in lockdown with no internet, etc?

actually, since i haven't been in town all day, i'd be interested to hear from people that walked/busses out on what it's like in the center of town...

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 July 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

of course, having been through central London via the tube, knowing where Gareth works, how the cogs turn in London at a glance, it's now all too easy to replay the chaos in my head. :( I'm happy that most of you are relatively calm about this, and keep cool about it. And again, there are great chances of Liz being fine..

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

i walked from gt portland to tottenham ct road past warren st up thru camden round 3. i'd been inna office all morning, and from all the sirens and news, i thought it'd be a lot weirder. obv the big hospital opposite warren st had a lot of activity, and euston rd was closed, but in general, it was just a lot of people walking north. in camden it was like a saturday afternoon. and there were some buses by that stage too. lots of cars the further north i got. i didn't see bloomsbury.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

Ned...

let me just say.. i'm REALLY happy that, if this had to happen, it happened now, and not tonight or tomorrow morning.. for your sake. I'm obviously not happy this happened at all, of course!

And if the reports about increased security in Europe i.e. Italy, Belgium, Netherlands are true, your trip will probably work out.. it will probably be a little bumpier than normal.. that's all.

Meanwhile, Seattle area increases transit security following London attacks. Just to give all of you some perspective of how this is playing out even in not-so-big cities far far away.

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, there were a bunch of transit police on Caltrain this morning, apparently. BART is still recovering from...you know, not being on strike.

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

Just got in after a long day at work with no access to ILX. I've been worried sick about who I know may be directly affected. I totally reiterate the need for a separate thread if anyone hears from anyone who knows how Liz is.

I've read this whole thread realising she is missing, and have been praying I'll get to the message saying she's been in touch.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

ABC News reports British officials told US law enforcement they discovered 2 unexploded bombs.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

Good to see Londoners heeding the call not to all go home at once and stoically wielding pint glasses.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:16 (twenty years ago)

it doesn't say who they learned same from, how many sources for same, or where the location of said bombs was (i.e., were they adjacent to the exploded ones?)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:16 (twenty years ago)

some tv station ticker tapes still say 'stay where you are', so it's fair do's.

bus bomb; any realistic figure yet?

― N_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:17 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone else noticed that people in the UK are considerably less shook than they were when Diana died?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

- Eyewitness this morning said two bodies laid out
- Doctor working at BMA who helped out said 10 dead
- Channel 4 News (I think it was them) said "as many as 40"

― Don't fuck this up! (noodles is a cunt), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

Only two confirmed dead from the bus bomb but 'likely to rise dramatically' according to C4 news

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i heard c4 say '40', and i was not surprised. weird day of rumors.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

unconfirmed statement from nurse circulating on news wires is 'at least 20' from bus

this in scotland:

Bomb disposal experts have carried out two controlled explosions on board a double decker bus in Edinburgh.
Lothian and Borders Police received reports of a suspect package from Princes Street at about 1730 BST.
An area between the Mound and Charlotte Square was cordoned off and all surrounding properties were evacuated.
Police said it was too early to tell what was in the package. The area remained sealed after another package was found outside a shop nearby.
A spokesman added: "We are treating seriously the discovery of a package found on a bus in Edinburgh this afternoon in light of the events in London this morning."
He said an area was cleared for 100m around the bus, including that part of Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens.
Shops and offices were asked to evacuate customers from the rear of their premises and traffic diversions were put in place.
Motorists were also asked to avoid the area

― dahlin (dahlin), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

yeah there were loads of weird rumours doing the rounds all day - heard about an explosion at Leicester Square, got a panicked phone call from someone who'd heard that a suicide bomber had been shot dead in Canary Wharf. both of which turned out to be bollocks.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i heard those exact same two -- also a phone call re the bird man of suicide wharf!

― n_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

JUST IN, WIRE STORY:

A passenger on the bus which was blown to pieces has told how he believes a man standing behind him and "rummaging in a bag" was the bomber.

Richard Jones boarded the doomed No 30 bus to Hackney at Euston, after officials closed the nearby underground station.

The 61-year-old IT consultant was attempting to get to work at Angel when he got on the bus and became aware of a "suspicious" young man standing next to him.

During the short journey before Mr Jones got off the bus - which exploded three seconds later - he said the man, in his mid 20s, became "extremely agitated." "This chap was standing near the back of the bus with a lot of others. There were a lot of people trying to get on buses at Euston so you can imagine the crush - it was standing room only," he said.

"This chap started dipping down into his bag and getting back up then dipping down and getting back up. He was getting more and more frustrated.

"He did it about a dozen times in two or three minutes and looked extremely agitated. He was fiddling away but he was getting annoyed with something.

"He kept bumping into me, it was getting on my nerves a bit, but I didn't say anything. He had his back to me and I couldn't see the bag properly but he looked well dressed. Every time he bent over I could see his underpants." He said when the bus got to Woburn Square, half a dozen passengers, including himself, realised the bus was not taking them where they wanted to go.

"We realised we were going in a different direction to where we wanted and we banged on the door and asked the driver to let us off.

"He opened the door and I took 10 or 12 steps away from the bus and it exploded.

"I felt the blast on the back of my head, turned around and saw there wasn't any top left on the bus.

"I don't know whether the man had anything to do with it but he was acting very strangely." Despite the fact the roof had been blown off in the explosion, Mr Jones, a Scotsman who now lives in Binfield, Berks., said there was a sense of calm and many on the top deck had escaped injury and were helping each other down.

"One end of the bus was wrecked and people were climbing down the debris at the back.

"The police seemed to be there immediately and cordoned it off. I don't know how many people were killed but a lot must have been badly injured.

"I was shocked. I just went up to people and said, 'I just walked off that bus'. I've been thanking my lucky stars all day.

― dahlin (dahlin), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

It was very strange walking out into the centre of Islington at about 4am - I've never seen so many people out on Roseberry Avenue, all walking one way. Not even rushing, not panicking, just calm and determined - like they knew London's public transport gets fucked at the most minor of setbacks, there was no point trying to get anywhere in a hurry. As it happens I for one got home with minimum trouble, considering the lack of a Tube.

In the pub was weird, kind of a slightly subdued mini-FAP. I think everyone was just happy to be there amongst friends.

A good friend of mine works about 200 yards from where the bus blew up. My flatmate took him for a run last night and he consequently overslept until 9am. Thank fuck for that.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

sorry to miss the FAP matt, i left work abt three mins before you suggested it

i realise this is like the LEAST appropriate part in dahlin's news story to pick up on but: "he looked well dressed. Every time he bent over I could see his underpants"

i can't reconcile these two sentences

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

maybe they were the posh kind

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

it's good thick detail though. what kind of underwear do you wear for such an occasion?

― n_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

I totally reiterate the need for a separate thread if anyone hears from anyone who knows how Liz is.

I totally reiterate the need to post it on this thread, which is the one about the matter, as opposed to hoping people will see it on the lively jungle of the New Answers page.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

"is the one about the matter" = is the one I'm refreshing all the time.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

Both can happen.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

One of the (possibly apocryphal) ways to tell a suicide bomber is that they're wearing multiple underpants and a lot of perfume, to cover the fact that 50% of them piss themselves coming up to the event.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

anyhoo, the bomber was on the bottom deck, it seems.

― n_RQ, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

Oh, anywhere, everywhere, just as long as we know she's OK.

I realise she may not be caring about posting to ILX, but has anyone tried contact her or Rob? I know that's a stupid question, of course you have, but people here are worried.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

Nothing but love to y'all from me and the rest of Seattle.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Mobile phone networks are still pretty fucked.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/default.stm (the bit scrolling across the top of the page) is reporting death toll now as 38.

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

ailsa, had contact from rob about 3ish when he hadn't heard anything, no news since.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:51 (twenty years ago)

When Liz turns up I'll put it in the thread title, if I'm still near a computer at the time. I'm constantly refreshing ILE as it is...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:52 (twenty years ago)

I've sent a few emails to London friends but have only heard back from two. It's such a big city that there's probably no reason to fret, but they're all tube-riders...

― andy --, Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

The casualty hotline is 0870 1566 344. I sort of know Liz so I tried a few times but got cut off after the recorded message.

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Thursday, 7 July 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

as much as we all care for Liz I reckon it's very not cool to be calling the hotline if you aren't an immediate relative or similar.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

Steve, I was going to phone you today as you, Ken and Tim are the only people I have numbers for in London and I've been going spare at work trying to remember where people work, googling workplaces and streetmap and whatever (selfishly I didn't want to alert my employers to my use of ILX by accessing it from work). I'm so glad you are all OK.

(xpost, Ed OTM about the hotline, is anyone near where her and Rob live to nip round and check?)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

Walked across Waterloo Bridge around 4:15pm with the hordes, decided not to risk packed/infrequent buses at Elephant and headed towards Kennington; agreed to meet Pam (in the car) at the north end of Kings Ave, SW9. Guess I walked about four miles. I couldn't have managed five.

Let's hope we hear from Liz D soon.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

I know what you mean about the amongst friends thing Matt. I was at my boyfriend's house with his flatmate. Then his other flatmate Anna and her friend Dan turned up having walked to Highbury from the Old Bailey, then Eoin turned up, then Anna's sister Wednesday and her boyfriend turned up. We got the red wine open at about 12:00. It felt so much better watching the TV and the computer with loads of people and more phoning in.

― Anna (Anna), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

When Liz turns up I'll put it in the thread title, if I'm still near a computer at the time. I'm constantly refreshing ILE as it is...

I'll be on alert to do the same.

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

(Ed: I was phoning on behalf of you lot. It seemed more sensible than having loads of people worry)

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

I'll also add that, as nervewracking as it might be, it may be days before anybody hears from Liz, and she'll likely still be just fine. Does anyone know if she was planning to be out of town this weekend? Maybe she quickly gathered her things and wanted to take a pre-emptive strike and obviously escape for a bit?

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

poor choice of words re: pre-emptive strike. i'm sorry.

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

No, we know she was in town and heading for her job in central London.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Wouldn't it be easier for someone to phone Rob and let him know we're all thinking of him? If the helpline is so busy then leave it for the ones who *really* need it.

(xpost, no donut, Rob posted earlier to say he hadn't heard from her so I guess she should have been on her way to/already at work which I gather is near Russell Square)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

(Robster being Liz's boyfriend, in case that isn't clear)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

I seem to have succeeded in getting a text through to Liz, which wasn't working earlier. Obviously I'll be straight on here if she replies. I can think of lots of non-horrible scenarios that fit the lack of news.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

i'm sure rob knows of our thoughts. no one in the pub had his number earlier, like i said i got an email from him this afternoon.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:37 (twenty years ago)

ABC reports two unexploded bombs found undetonated which should provide info on the bombers.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Just spoke to Marianna who is at Rob's house with Pam and Nick. Still no news. Rob's holding up. Just waiting.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

thanks lex.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

oh fuck that is awful.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

I'm hoping and praying just now. Rob must know that we are all doing that, and wish I could do more.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

my heart sank when I just read that sentence

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone know if he called the hotline? If they don't know anything maybe shes ok and just unable to get home or contact anyone.

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

i think we can safely assume they have.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

I hope I don't live to see this sort of horror first hand. Reading accounts of people who witnessed the explosions or the aftermath, I find myself recoiling from really trying to imagine what's being described.

― RS LaRue (RSLaRue), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

they've called the hotline, hospitals, everything that can be done.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:52 (twenty years ago)

Surely if something bad had happened Rob or someone close to Rob would have been notified, right? I think maybe no news is good news?

― giboyeux (skowly), Thursday, 7 July 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

Yeah they have names of all the casualties so lets take it as a positive sign.

― Andy Jay, Thursday, 7 July 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

Ah :(

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

(this is obviously far from the most important thing but in the light of this, forget about the sugar will not be going ahead.)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 July 2005 21:38 (twenty years ago)

I got the same message as Lex a while back, but didn't really want to panic people by posting it. A few hours later and I am now really, really worried. Fuck... I don't even know what to think any more.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 7 July 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

I really hope this turns out ok. The no news is good news theory is a good one.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Well, some side notes: you know those two photos inside the tube tunnel that have been making the rounds across major news sites? They were taken by a regular on the Get Your Bootleg On forum! JetSetAlex. I'm guessing a few of you know him, probably.

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

Alex is fine but he was in the tube near one of the explosions, but thankfully not too close... he took photos as he was being evacuated.. hence those eerie photos. There's a third self pic of him looking like he just swept a chimney for a bit. Great photos all 'round.

Seeing the pic of the chaos at King Cross station is REALLY making me feel queasy, as that station was the central point for me getting off the Picadilly line in order to grab a bus to Gareth's place (Finsbury Park) last summer... :( Seeing it with all those people really gives me goosebumps now.

― donut e- (donut), Thursday, 7 July 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

ken livingstone digs newts no sh1t

― willdabeast, Thursday, 7 July 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

worried about shit-googlers?

― Masked Gazza, Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

people who are shit at google?

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

I'm off to bed, thoughts and prayers are with Rob and Liz.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:20 (twenty years ago)

Me too.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

I'm relieved so many of you guys in London are fine, doing well, only affected as far as transportation and mobility options go, etc. Thank goodness for that. I am also hoping that Liz gets to check in as soon as she can and say something to the effect of, "I'm fine! I'm fine! Stop worrying about me." It's funny how the last time I interacted with Liz here on ILX was something as comparatively silly and minor as debating the issue of piercing babies' ears. The mundane vs. the grandiose.

Here's to having every one of the London ILXors here be okay.

― The Kind and Benevolent Oracle of Dee (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

"My first thought when I heard - just on a personal basis, when I heard there had been this attack and I saw the futures this morning, which were really in the tank, I thought, 'Hmmm, time to buy.'"

- Fox News's Brit Hume, 7/7/05

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

The rate of reported injury through accidents in the home in the UK was around 2,200.000 last year. Respect for those caught up in the explosions and deep condolences to all affected directly - but watch out all those cowering in the kitchens. It's the most dangerous place you could be - containing relatives (e.g. those most likely to kill or injure you) and sharp things. Come into town. Fear is human but cowardice means they win!

― Simon Baddeley, Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:45 (twenty years ago)

Why was ABC News reporting earlier that only 4 explosions occurred this evening? There were 7, right?

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 7 July 2005 23:56 (twenty years ago)

There was 4. 3 at tube stations and 1 on a bus.

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 00:02 (twenty years ago)

I've been watching sky news and they have messages from people that are ok. Theres been one Elizabeth i've noticed. Would her surname begin with O'D?

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 00:12 (twenty years ago)

Prob not her but I thought i'd pass it on just incase.

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

Oh shit, I was hoping to get some good news after not checking for awhile. I hope we hear something encouraging soon.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:16 (twenty years ago)

did Britt Hume really say that?!? i mean, *what*the*fuck* is that all about? utterly infuriating.

― john'n'chicago, Friday, 8 July 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

Please tell me there was more to that quote (Britt Hume's). Please tell me he isn't being as big a callous, selfish, greedy jerk as that quote would make him out to be. Please tell me he ended up saying something like, "But I realize that my stock portfolio isn't even in the same level of concern as that that I must express toward the residents of London, whom I extend my deepest condolences toward." Please tell me that.

― The Kind and Benevolent Oracle of Dee (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:26 (twenty years ago)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

During Fox News' coverage of the July 7 London bombings, Washington managing editor Brit Hume told host Shepard Smith that his "first thought," when he "heard there had been this attack" and saw the low futures market, was "Hmmm, time to buy." Smith had asked Hume to comment on the lack of a negative U.S. stock market reaction to the London attacks.

From Fox News' July 7 breaking news coverage between 1 and 2 p.m. ET:

SMITH: "Some of the things you might expect to happen, for instance, a drop in the stock market and some degree of uncertainty across this country -- none of that really seen today, and I wonder if the timing of it -- that it happened in the middle of the night and we were able to get a sense of the grander scheme of things -- wasn't helpful in all this."

HUME: "Well, maybe. The other thing is, of course, people have -- you know, the market was down. It was down yesterday, and you know, you may have had some bargain-hunting going on. I mean, my first thought when I heard -- just on a personal basis, when I heard there had been this attack and I saw the futures this morning, which were really in the tank, I thought, "Hmmm, time to buy." Others may have thought that as well. But you never know about the markets. But obviously, if the markets had behaved badly, that would obviously add to people's sense of alarm about it. But there has been a lot of reassurance coming, particularly in the way that -- partly in the way the Brits handled all this, but also in the way that officials here handled it. There seems to be no great fear that something like that is going to happen here, although there's no indication that we here had any advance warning."

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:31 (twenty years ago)

Don't know what to say, so I'll just echo Hari- :(.

(xpost over all the futures stuff and whatnot)

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:42 (twenty years ago)

i too was hoping for good news about liz. i can't imagine how hard this is for robster and her closest loved ones.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:52 (twenty years ago)

Me neither. My thoughts are with all of you.

― Leon C. (Ex Leon), Friday, 8 July 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

Holy crap. Britt Hume IS a callous, selfish, greedy jerk. :(

And Liz still hasn't checked in. I hope it's because it's been almost impossibly difficult for her to get to an Internet-connected computer or to get a working mobile phone signal.

(Also: Leon C OTM.)

― The Kind and Benevolent Oracle of Dee (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 8 July 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

I'm praying really hard for Liz & Rob.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 8 July 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

ive been praying pretty steady, lit candles in the home here, i dont know what else to do.

every saint i can think of--explosions, war, wives, victims of violence, saint elizabeth herself, patron saints of london and england...

― anthony, Friday, 8 July 2005 01:21 (twenty years ago)

My prayers and best wishes go to the London krewe. After three days away, I've been putting off reading these for last, for fear of bad news. I wish you all the best, esp. Liz & Rob.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 8 July 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

Am glad most of you are all right; I really hope Liz turns up safe.

Desperately want to be home right now.

― cis (cis), Friday, 8 July 2005 01:35 (twenty years ago)

Been thinking of London ILX all day and hoping for the best.

― Arthur (Arthur), Friday, 8 July 2005 02:25 (twenty years ago)

Just want to say how much you all mean to me. Best of luck.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Friday, 8 July 2005 03:37 (twenty years ago)

love to all in london.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 8 July 2005 03:39 (twenty years ago)

true

― don, Friday, 8 July 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

i can't believe somebody could do that to the london underground. i spent most of a day last fall while i was there just trying to ride on all the lines and get a look at the more famous stations.

i've only met a handful of londoners but you're all in my thoughts. please take care.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Friday, 8 July 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

so fortunate that my good friend in london has been accounted for: he was evacauated from the piccadilly line. love to you all and hope that you and yours are safe and sound. i keep refreshing this thread waiting for good news.

― supertwerp (supertwerp), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

Leaving for Scotland now. I was so hoping for news of Liz. Not sure if I'll be able to get ILx, but Gareth, coudl you email my work email if she shows up?

― Anna (Anna), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:19 (twenty years ago)

Just got up to check this. I'm really upset there's no news.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

I felt a bit too numb to really say anything yesterday, but my thoughts and love are with London right now.

x-post, me too.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

I was hoping for some news too, warmest thoughts to all, esp for Liz and Rob

we're going in to work, can't say I'm not shitting myself.

― Porkpie (porkpie), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:47 (twenty years ago)

i'm back at work. buses seem to be back to normal (i had to go the roundabout way, i.e. avoid central london, to get back home last night but i was able to get buses all the way).

the lack of liz news is worrying me immensely.

strange how all around this thread, ilx seems to be going on exactly as normal. i can't even face posting to any thread apart from this one at the moment. doesn't seem right somehow.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:53 (twenty years ago)

I'm going into work now, and won't be able to check ILX until very late this evening. Madchen, Carsmile, anyone with my number, please text me if Liz checks in?

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:57 (twenty years ago)

ILM has mostly gone to hell today anyway thanks to the various anono-posters and all the "Stoner Guy"s, so you're not missing much at all.

― donut e- (donut), Friday, 8 July 2005 05:58 (twenty years ago)

I had hoped to wake up to some, any news of Liz. Love goes out to Rob and Liz.

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

Same here. Love, thoughts etc...

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

Stupid question, I know, but does Rob actually know we're all this worried? I mean, he'll contact someone connected to ILX and they'll let us know, right?

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone have their phone number? Isn't there a way to look it up? If you know their family name, then it's quite easy to look it up, no? That's probably a stupid question/remark, cause if I figured this out...

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:12 (twenty years ago)

Yes, if you read the thread you'll see that they know that people here are worried and that everyone sends their best wishes and prayers, and that good friends are in contact.

― marianna, Friday, 8 July 2005 06:20 (twenty years ago)

Fuck, I was hoping all through my journey in that there'd be good news waiting. The journey was very fast and easy - the least crowded I've ever known my commute, and despite warnings of severe delays on the TFL website, making me leave home 15 minutes early, faster than usual. The Victoria isn't stopping at King's Cross or Euston.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:40 (twenty years ago)

Euston station evacuated due to a security alert, clearly London is very jumpy this morning.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:43 (twenty years ago)

John Howard (Aus PM) saying dead stand at 52, no confirmation from UK sources.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 8 July 2005 06:49 (twenty years ago)

The centre of The Hague was crawling with police this morning, there was even an officer on my train.

Love to all the London crew, espec. Rob + Liz. Thinking of you all.

― stevo (stevo), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:01 (twenty years ago)

Back at work now. Any updates on Liz?

Walked to Kennington last night, which is where the busses started running again. They were all free - everyone was just relieved to be getting home.

Spent the night channel-hopping from news station to news station. Still not much update, even by this morning. London is jumpy. The first bus I got on (a 159) the conductor freaked out because a woman brought an old-skool suitcase on and stuck it in the storage space under the stairs.

― MIS Information (kate), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:03 (twenty years ago)

Moochie luv from Canada ... stay hard for the neighborhood - I'm ignorantly going to eat nothing but fish n chips today in tribute to you guys, zits be damned.

― LeCoq (LeCoq), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:07 (twenty years ago)

As soon as word is received on Liz a new thread will be made and the title of this one will be amended.

I'm at home all day today, don't really feel like going out or doing anything other than to keep loitering around here waiting for some news.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:09 (twenty years ago)

Jesus, just spoke to my only uncontactable friend who works with me from yesterday. She's plastered on the BBC News website in their eyewitness photo's section covered in soot(?). She was at the front of the Picadilly train that went off in Kings X, and although fine other than for cuts & bruises spent most of the day trapped underground / in hospital / being interviewed. Ended up having to walk home from a hospital in Euston to Turnpike Lane at 8pm. Still in tattered clothes.

Obviously not so keen on coming into work this morning, though she is looking forward to a weekend of shopping therapy.

― MattR (MattR), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:28 (twenty years ago)

Also, apparently the news this morning is that there are still more ... (it took three attempts to write this) bodies underneath Kings Cross waiting to be dug out and/or brought to the surface.

Apparently loads of scaffolding was taken in last night.

― MIS Information (kate), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:29 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe there's still no news. Much love to Liz & Rob.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:30 (twenty years ago)

Same here. My thoughts are with Liz & Rob.

― sgs (sgs), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:33 (twenty years ago)

I'm in Maidenhead today. Surprisingly straightforward journey in. Obvious divide in the office between those who were in London yesterday and those who weren't.
V.worried about Liz.

― RickyT (RickyT), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:34 (twenty years ago)

Holy crap. Britt Hume IS a callous, selfish, greedy jerk. :(

The "my first thought" wording is unfortunate, sure. But in context (which wasn't provided at the first occurrence of the quote on this thread), it's clear he was being asked about the market's reaction, and used himself as an example to explain why the reaction was what it was (which I think he did reasonably well). (NB I have no idea who this Hume person is.)

Hope Liz + everyone else anyone is worried about turns out fine :(

― OleM (OleM), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:41 (twenty years ago)

Easy journey in from Maidenhead too. And easy journey home last night.

I am impressed by the calm and dignified response of people in London.

I am less impressed by the "My granny lives closer than your granny" brigade, who seem to have taken up residence at the other end of the office. Well, that is a bit unfair, but you know what I mean.

Big up Liz and Rob.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:44 (twenty years ago)

Thinking of you all. It's a beautiful summer's day here and the events of yesterday seem even more unreal compared to the tranquility outside my window. I hope the day brings nothing but good news to you all, esp. Liz and Rob.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:52 (twenty years ago)

This is the most chilling thing I've read:

Diverted from his usual route along Euston Road, the driver of the Number 30 from Hackney to Marble Arch was struggling to navigate his way through the rush-hour traffic and the unfamiliar streets of Bloomsbury.

When he reached the corner of Upper Woburn Place and Tavistock Square, he decided to get help, and pulled over the double-decker to ask two Camden council parking attendants for directions.

As he beckoned them over, the bomb detonated.

The only thing it makes me think is... if you were a Terrorist who had either changed his mind, or had been diverted from your intention, you're on a bus, and suddenly the bus stops and the bus driver beckons over two men in uniforms, would you panic and hit the button?

― MIS Information (kate), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:52 (twenty years ago)

I have to be in meetings all day and can't watch the thread, would it be possible for someone to text me if there's any news about Liz? We've never met, but I'm feeling pretty worried.

Email me for my number if you can.

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:54 (twenty years ago)

Ew Kate, that's a horribly logical thought innit? Terrible :(

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:57 (twenty years ago)

Similarly, if anyone's willing to text me with news when it becomes available, can they email me at this address and I'll give them my work mobile number.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:57 (twenty years ago)

Trayce OTM. :(

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 07:58 (twenty years ago)

Sorry but I didn't know where else to post this - Kate I have emailed you!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:02 (twenty years ago)

It is a silly thought, and a pointless one.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:06 (twenty years ago)

i dreamt about liz last night. hope that's a good sign. *hugs* rob

― dahlin (dahlin), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:06 (twenty years ago)

I suppose logical thoughts and speculation go on the other thread then.

I hate to have to bring it up, and it's not my decision to make of course, but plans for tomorrow may be altered somewhat given the situation as is. A gathering of some sort in town is still likely though I think.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:10 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I may not be in any mood for fun and games, though I'm sure I'll be in the mood to get together anyway.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:12 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure an announcement will be made on the Trig Brother thread in due course.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:13 (twenty years ago)

BBC provide a factual news summary:

Russell Square - King's Cross
08:56
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/html/russell_sq.stm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:25 (twenty years ago)

I'll be here all day (until about half six), so I'll take care of the texting if no-one else has. tissp, Forest Pines will be reciving mail from me shortly.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:29 (twenty years ago)

This didn't really occur to me until now but was the Picadilly train northbound or southbound? From one report I did get the impression that it was southbound.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:30 (twenty years ago)

On behalf of the others, I'm letting you all know Forget About The Sugar is now cancelled.

Liz, Rob, well, you know what I'm thinking, OK?

― Negativa, True Believer (Sheryl Crow in a Britney costume) (Barima), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:31 (twenty years ago)

It was southbound, and about 100 yards from Kings Cross Station according to the news last night.

― MIS Information (kate), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:31 (twenty years ago)

xpost
Apparently all the affected trains originated from King's Cross.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:32 (twenty years ago)

news updated this morning 40 people are still critical.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:34 (twenty years ago)

just keeping fingers crossed - best of thoughts to liz and rob.

― stelf)xxx, Friday, 8 July 2005 08:54 (twenty years ago)

Apparently all the affected trains originated from King's Cross.

They had all stopped there, at least. I don't think any Underground trains start at Kings Cross in normal operation.

Bob Crow was on the news this morning saying that some drivers were refusing to work until the police had completed forensic searches of the bomb sites, because as yet there was no evidence whether the Aldgate bomb was on the train or on the track. The latter sounds rather unlikely, though.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:57 (twenty years ago)

i'm so glad to see that almost all are accounted for and safe, and i'm wishing for a happy ending to the liz story. hope to see some of you this weekend.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 8 July 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

There is a news conference on TV at the moment on BBC. They are asking people to call the emergency line, if they had called before to say someone was missing and if they now know that person is fine. They have also said there are 50+ confirmed deaths. Also some details about about the type of explosives, and believing bombs were left on floors of tube trains and not suicide attacks.

― marianna, Friday, 8 July 2005 09:14 (twenty years ago)

Factual News update from Police Conference:

Still identifying fatalities re: Piccadilly Line train
21 still in critical condition, 1 person has died in Hospital

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:15 (twenty years ago)

I keep coming back, hoping to hear news. I'm thinking about you, Liz and Rob.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:17 (twenty years ago)

BBC News:
Blast victims remain in hospital
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4663671.stm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:31 (twenty years ago)

Martian, BBC links don't really seem necessary on here as everyone reading this will be able to access them anyway, unless BBC site goes down again (unlikely unless there is other big bad news today).

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

Capitalism (It Fails Us Now)

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:37 (twenty years ago)

I liked it, because I'm basically reading no other thread today, and it was useful. Though Charles Clarke's statement did annoy me.

xpost - didn't like that much.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:38 (twenty years ago)

Still bodies at kings cross.
Death toll will exceed 50 says met police.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4663931.stm

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 09:51 (twenty years ago)

Sorry tube train at russell square.

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 09:51 (twenty years ago)

i kept thinking up harmless scenarios preventing liz from getting home, last night. the one i think i settled on: she wore cute but not-so-sensible shoes to work yesterday. after the explosions, she decided to walk home to get cuddles from robster. hurrying in her impractical shoes, she tripped over a loose paving stone, dropped her phone and badly twisted her ankle. her phone with all numbers in it is smashed, and she can't walk home. she waits in a hotel lobby until the people that are more injured can be treated and she can be taken home.

sorry, i know 'speculation' is for the other thread, i just wanted to add my best wishes for liz and rob and explain why i agree that no news isn't bad news.

― colette (a2lette), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:54 (twenty years ago)

ugh. as soon as i hit 'send', two guys knocked on my door. the looked like estate agents. one said, 'hi, i'm blah, and this is blah, and we're here to let you know how the bible can help YOU in your time of stress and pain'

i must've said 'ohhhh no, that's really not for me' in a convincing enough way because they left without an argument.

i did wish them a good day, though.

vultures.

― colette (a2lette), Friday, 8 July 2005 09:56 (twenty years ago)

News conference on Sky news.
Theres no survivors left in the tube train tunnel But conditions are very dangerous and it could take some time to get the bodies out. They don't know how many bodies there are.

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 10:08 (twenty years ago)

Jesus. My thoughts are with all you London ILXors and sincere hope for the return of Liz.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:10 (twenty years ago)

The Wiki page is clear and concise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:32 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I meant to mention that I totally retract my sneering at wikinews on the other thread, it's been a marvel.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:35 (twenty years ago)

Ok saw another update on Sky News. There are people who are slightly injured but are unidentified at hospitals. Possibly lost their bags or anything that would carry ID.
So lets keep hope.

They also say dont phone the hospitals. Phone the emergency line.

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

i'm going into a meeting soon and won't be online. will someone please text me if there's any news? thanks...

― colette (a2lette), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Sure.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

I just returned from a two-day trip, and I haven't been able to use Internet, but my ever since I've heard about the bombings I've been worrying about London ILXors and their loved ones. I have no god to turn to (and on times like these I almost wish I had), but let me just say that even if something has happened to Liz, statistically it's far more likely that she's just been injured rather than the worst case. My thoughts are with her, and with all of you.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:52 (twenty years ago)

well, so far there haven't been any injuries amongst us, am i right?

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

I heard from a woman was in the metro. She had just taken a seat and then heard a bomb explode. She was lucky because she had moved to another spot. She heard men screaming:"I lost my legs." :-(((((((((((((((((((((((

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

She heard men screaming:"I lost my legs."
My God. :-(

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:02 (twenty years ago)

Now I hope Rob isn't reading this.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:04 (twenty years ago)

A couple of years ago, we had a bombing here in a shopping mall, that killed maybe 15 people and injured a lot more (it wasn't a terrorist act, it was done by a lone crazy guy). One of my first thoughts when I heard about it was, "Thank god it happened in an area where none of my friends are likely to have been!". I guess we start to think this way, if there's a chance loved ones are involved.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:08 (twenty years ago)

As someone who found himself simply afflicted in the aftermath of the 9/11 event, my thoughts are with all Londoners. What I felt not knowing any victims, and not having myself been in the buildings was a strange sort of regret, as if I weren't entitled to grieve. Now four years later, those memories return as freshly as if it were yesterday, and I recall how tense 9/11 to 9/13 was downtown (I lived right above 14th St.) and how my friends took in students whose dorm was coated in soot, and how we pretended that it was just a party. Meanwhile I found myself suffering symptoms of post traumatic stress, and also felt that I wasn't entitled to treatment for it.

Be attentive to your feelings and don't be ashamed to vent your frustrations. Talk to your loved ones. And above all else, courage.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

I totally understand what you're saying here. Not being directly involved in yesterday's events makes me slightly embarassed to be as openly upset about it as I am.

I found myself three months later at a Christmas party and an old friend of the family approaches me not knowing that I lived in New York, nor that I lived so close to the site (relatively speaking: about 20 blocks or so directly north), or that I had been standing on 5th Avenue below 14th St. when the buildings collapsed and she asks me what I thought about 9/11. I just said "I live there" and walked away. Take care of yourselves and each other. I developed some of my closest friendships in the days following that event with people who were strangers to me until then.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Friday, 8 July 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

Still a lot of siren action round here in Holborn; just saw two police cars almost run into each other at speed at the Southampton Row/High Holborn/Kingsway intersection - they ultimately headed along New Oxford Street. Probably entirely unrelated.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

I heard them out the window.

(Does every London ILX person work within hearing distance of that intersection?)

― MIS Information (kate), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

there is a select group of us who do ;)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

I didn't hear them, but I don't think there are more sirens than usual going past here today. There's about 56 on an average day. Now someone is honking their horn.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

Account from a survivor of the King's Cross bomb:
http://www.urban75.org/london/bombs.html

I'm going to sit in the garden today and look at the flowers and the sun and appreciate the fuck out of everything.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

Walked home in about an hour yesterday. Easier than I expected. Working from home today.
Love to Liz and Rob.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:43 (twenty years ago)

I've just found out that one of my oldest friends was working (she'd just recently changed jobs & I didn't know where to) in the building next to the BMA & the bus exploded right outside her building. She is a first aider so tried to help, but she said some of them were too bad to help. Also she said that their clothes were shredded & that they couldn't hear her.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:45 (twenty years ago)

Hi beanz I take it you didn't pop in the Red Lion in the end? Alix thought she might have seen you.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:45 (twenty years ago)

my friend vicki was on a train at kings cross yesterday, but she's OK -- minor injuries. from an email:

"I'd managed to move away from the standing-only space by the doors of the train to a seat at Kings Cross and that move pretty much saved my life because 30 seconds later there was a blast of white light, a noise like you wouldn't believe, and it was total carnage where I'd been standing, with business men in suits screaming that they'd lost both their legs. (One girl told me that she found God at that very moment.) I think 21 people died on that train alone."

rob & liz, my thoughts are with you.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:47 (twenty years ago)

As (some of) you know, I used to work there, at various locations. Suffice to say, I would have been with you if I still did, and am, at least, in spirit.

That was a lot of typing gobbledegook, but you know what I mean.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

my friend vicki was on a train at kings cross yesterday, but she's OK -- minor injuries. from an email:

So the same person I mentioned above in regard to men losing both legs.

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Friday, 8 July 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

I did pop into the Red Lion for about 30 seconds but I didn't see anyone immediately and I was meeting people further up upper street so I didn't hang about. Sorry to miss you

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Aha! this robot has eagle eyes!

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Unlike me

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:02 (twenty years ago)

OK, so there are more sirens than usual.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

they just had a false alram in the building next to ours on kingsway which could account for it.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

I was expecting to come to work and hear good news about Liz.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

I think we all were.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

GODDAMNIT WHY NO NEWS? love to liz and rob and all of london, my god.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

Thing is, there is a longstanding rule that you cannot use mobile phones inside a hospital, for interference reasons.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Latest news from TV: Officials say 13 dead from Tavistock Rd. Bus.

― marianna, Friday, 8 July 2005 13:33 (twenty years ago)

Are the mobile networks still down? Is it that nobody can get in touch with Rob?

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Please could someone text me if we've not heard from Liz or Rob before I've left work as I have no web access at home.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

I'll be in tonight with mobile and internet access so if anyone wants to mail me (just delete the ANGSTA) their numbers (mobile or landline) if they're going to be out tonight or away from the web then feel free and I'll let you know ASAP if we learn anything.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

Pink check yr mail

xpost

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

the longer i see this thread roll on the more worried i'm becoming. i have no web access at home right now and am leaving the country tomorrow, but am checking kind of weirdly obsessively at the moment. if news comes in please let me know via text (pink, do you have my number still?) i can get texts both here and in the US. seriously fucking keeping fingers crossed here.

― stelf)xxx, Friday, 8 July 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Damn, I want the bold at the top of this thread to have good news, very soon. My positive thoughts and prayers are non-stop London-and-Liz bound today.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

*is quietly horrified at the lack of Liz news and sends best to all*

More thoughts at this moment would be trite. I will refrain.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Also I guess in the event of ILX going down at some point today as it often can I'd be willing to e-mail people too if news comes through by phone or elsewhere so feel free to send addresses as well.

Maybe check FreakyTrigger too should this eventuality occur, as Liz is a regular Pumpkin Publogger.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Dave I've still got your number providing you haven't changed it.
Thanks Tisp & Stevem.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Friday, 8 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

nathalie - sorry, i didnt see your post above!

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 8 July 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

I have to go home now and my computer's packed up in boxes at home so can somebody who knows my number text me if there's any news? Thanks.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Friday, 8 July 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Stevem, I've just emailed you my mobile number. I can pass a message to Madchen if required and I imagine we can get the Glasgow crowd informed between us.

If any of the Glasgow crowd hear anything, please also text me.

Like Colette, I have a bunch of scenarios of varying probability in my head. I need something to cling onto.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 8 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Hugs Alisa. The news just reported that one of the people featured on the news all day that was reported missing (Martine?) had been finally located by her family in critical condition in a hospital just in the past hour or so.

― marianna, Friday, 8 July 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

I'm not going to be able to watch the thread for the rest of the evening, but Andrew Farrell and CarsmileSteve both have my number if anything happens, and I'll pass it on to Pink if they can send me any notice of developments. Alternatively I can give you my number, stevem.

Cheers dudes.

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Friday, 8 July 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

colette your scenario is wildly implausible and reality does not need to be - injured, no ID, being taken care of is my guess. i've been carrying liz's face in my head every hour, unbidden. hang in there, rob.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 8 July 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

http://www.flickr.com/groups/londinium/pool/

― I Named Veal (nordicskilla), Friday, 8 July 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

Oh god. I just got back from honeymoon. Am going to speak to someone by phone soon I hope but please please let me know by some means if there's any news of Liz.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 8 July 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

I have your number, if i hear anything i'll let you know.

― alix (alix), Friday, 8 July 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

Damn still no news of Liz?

― Andy Jay, Friday, 8 July 2005 23:03 (twenty years ago)

My thoughts are with you all.

― estela (estela), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1524669,00.html

― Leon C. (Ex Leon), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

Seeing Liz's name in black and white like that is fucking terrifying.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:24 (twenty years ago)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1686881,00.html

this is so, so awful.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:28 (twenty years ago)

ughhhhhhhh

― no tech! (ex machina), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

This is unbearable. I feel sick. I don't even know what to say. Liz and Rob were there on my last night in London only a few days ago - this doesn't even seem real to me. All I can do now is continue to work on the assumption that she is injured, and is simply not on the database of people admitted yet. Fucking hell. Big hug to Rob and fingers are crossed here in Canada.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:34 (twenty years ago)

I haven't posted on this thread since it was just a news update, because I feel upset and awkward and don't know what to say, other than much love to Rob and to Liz, wherever she is. I'm thinking about you both all the time.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:49 (twenty years ago)

Hi guys. I've been with Rob for most of today and he knows and appreciates that you're all praying for Liz and he.

There is still no news.

We've just come back from plastering the major hospitals with 'missing person' posters (and already journalists have been calling to get a 'human angle' quote - the bastards), and both the hospital staff and police confirm that everyone who has been admitted to hospital has now been accounted for. But we're still hoping.

This is so far beyond horrible.

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Friday, 8 July 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

I haven't posted here before, but i've been sitting refreshing this page since last night hoping for safe news of Liz. My thoughts are with her and Rob.

― Gavin Dunbar, Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

i don't post on here very often, but i just wanted to give my best wishes to rob and liz. we are all thinking about you up here, and hoping for news of the best kind. many hugs and kisses. lyns xxxx

― lynsosaur, Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:02 (twenty years ago)

I haven't met Liz, just had a number of friendly exchanges here and there on various subjects, but I'm broken up.

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:03 (twenty years ago)

I'm clinging to optimism here. Still clinging.

― donut e- (donut), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

i haven't posted here yet, but my thoughts are with all of you

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:07 (twenty years ago)

oh god, I can't believe this. you are all stunningly brave. praying for good news.

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:10 (twenty years ago)

It just occurred to me today that I haven't seen Liz for four years. Coincidentally I was looking at some photos last week of that very weekend, and those photos always make me want to come back to London to visit.

I can't sleep, can't concentrate on anything else just now. I was sickened all day at work on Thursday reading the reports and listening to the radio, and that was without knowing I knew someone directly involved. I can't imagine what Rob and her family must be going through. Love and prayers continue from up here.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:15 (twenty years ago)

Anthony Fatayi-Williams
His friends have discovered that the Amoco oil company executive phoned his office at 8.41am from King's Cross saying he was going to take the bus to work. Ope Obunbanjo, who tied pictures of his friend to the railings at King's Cross yesterday, said: "We keep ringing him but there is nothing."

I just spoke to him on Wednesday for work reasons. I hardly knew him (we work in different companies), and had last spoken to him about 9 months ago. This is freaking me out.

I can't imagine what Rob and friends of Liz, and the families/friends of the others are going through.

I am proud of ILX Londoners/worldwide.

― Tannenbaum Schmidt (Nik), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

oh god; am trying to stay positive, it's getting harder though.

Marianna - thanks for the update, really appreciated.

― The Lex (The Lex), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:19 (twenty years ago)

I'm very new here, but my thoughts are with you. I don't have specific insider information, but last I heard in the newsroom work continues at King's Cross, which is something.

― stet (stet), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:26 (twenty years ago)

Yes sorry, thanks also to Marianna for keeping us updated.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:36 (twenty years ago)

I don't really know anybody here, but this is extremely distressing to read. My thoughts are likewise with all of you.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:37 (twenty years ago)

Oh god, this is unbelievable. I wish I could hug all my UK s1nister friends right now. Rob, Liz and all of you are in my thoughts, constantly.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

this is unthinkable -- my thoughts are with ilx's londoners.

― mark p (Mark P), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

have been checking here periodically, just hope to god this works out. god bless both rob and liz and all affected londoners.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:50 (twenty years ago)

Haven't really had much to contribute being a random American thousands of miles away, but my thoughts and hopes for the best are with all of you.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 9 July 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

I keep forgetting that I haven't posted to this thread for a while even though I have been checking up on it every ten minutes for the last day. My thoughts are with Rob and Liz and everybody that knows them.

― Nevada Lime (nordicskilla), Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:00 (twenty years ago)

Another American here who doesn't know anybody but is extremely upset by this who's thinking about you Londoners, especially Rob and Liz.

― k/l (Ken L), Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:06 (twenty years ago)

And another... Liz is so cool, I hope she's alright, and I can't imagine what you folks must be going through.

― Aaron A., Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:11 (twenty years ago)

With London and Liz in this fateful hour

― Laurel, Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:45 (twenty years ago)

my heart sinks every time I come back to ILE and the thread title hasn't been updated. Still hoping for the best though ...

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:50 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god, I hadn't read this thread until now but I'm thinking of Liz now and hoping everything is ok.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Saturday, 9 July 2005 01:52 (twenty years ago)

I've not posted in either of these threads because every time I try I can't quite find the words. My thoughts are with Liz and Rob.

― astropatty (adr), Saturday, 9 July 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

please be ok

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 9 July 2005 02:42 (twenty years ago)

Oh God. Bless you, Liz.

― Alba (Alba), Saturday, 9 July 2005 02:54 (twenty years ago)

jesus.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Saturday, 9 July 2005 03:06 (twenty years ago)

My stomach just dropped straight south. I must hope for the best possible outcome. Londoners: take care of yourselves.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 9 July 2005 03:08 (twenty years ago)

I just woke up and turned on the computer, hoping to read some positive news, but no. This is awful. I keep on wishing, it's not an hopeless situation yet.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 9 July 2005 06:08 (twenty years ago)

: (

good thoughts

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 9 July 2005 06:17 (twenty years ago)

oh god. like everyone else, my thoughts are with liz & rob. i've prayed for the first time in 18 years. still hoping.

― toby (tsg20), Saturday, 9 July 2005 07:53 (twenty years ago)

Rob, i haven't seen you or Liz for a few years and I've never posted here before, but I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you both and I'm hoping for good news soon. Can't stop refreshing this page. Take care, Katrina @ Banchory/B&S.

― Katrina House (katrina), Saturday, 9 July 2005 08:17 (twenty years ago)

Hi,

i'm a sinister lurker, and i just heard about Liz. She's one of the few London sinisters that i've never met, but still, i'm so worried, especially when so many of you that i do know, know and love her.

my thoughts are with you rob and liz.

― Sarahluv, Saturday, 9 July 2005 08:28 (twenty years ago)

As a relative newbie I don't actually know Liz or Rob, I've been checking this thread since the start and will continue to, it's been on my mind constantly since thursday afternoon, hopeful thoughts and prayers to all.

― mzui (mzui), Saturday, 9 July 2005 08:33 (twenty years ago)

This is devastating me, so I can barely imagine how it is affecting Rob. My thoughts are with you, and I'm still hoping with everything I have for a good outcome.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 9 July 2005 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Yeah I don't know Liz and I can't stop checking here. First thought when I woke up was to check here for good news. Thoughts and prayers and everything.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Saturday, 9 July 2005 08:47 (twenty years ago)

Hari OTM. I can't believe there's still no news. It's unreal.

― tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Saturday, 9 July 2005 09:08 (twenty years ago)

She's gotta be ok. Hopefully the posters will alert more ppl and maybe someone will see her.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 9 July 2005 09:30 (twenty years ago)

My heartfelt wishes to everyone affected.

― mzbz (Mz Bz), Saturday, 9 July 2005 10:03 (twenty years ago)

oh no, this is so, so horrible that there is still no news. Please, please let there be some good news soon.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 9 July 2005 10:32 (twenty years ago)

I just saw Liz's poster on ITV and my heart sank. I hope some good news appears soon.

― Negativa, True Believer (Sheryl Crow in a Britney costume) (Barima), Saturday, 9 July 2005 10:43 (twenty years ago)

every time I try I can't quite find the words. My thoughts are with Liz and Rob.

Me too

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Saturday, 9 July 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

I fully expected to come back and find there was some positive news. Further comment is probably redundant, other than to say my thoughts are with Liz and Rob.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:08 (twenty years ago)

I'm going out now but i really hope there is some good news by the time i can check again. And i'm hoping this doesn't roll over into another day because for those of you who know her personally and especially Rob this must be just unbearable.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:12 (twenty years ago)

It's been very, very hard to balance out my general 'hey, I'm here!' feeling now that I'm in London with the reality of this situation. I can only say simply that my hopes are with you all and that I don't come across as too intrusively silly otherwise.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

Jesus

― Dadaismus (Dada), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

This is unreal

― Dadaismus (Dada), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure all our thoughts are with Liz and Rob.

As Tuomas said it's not hopeless and lets hope that the love and thoughts of both friends and strangers can make a difference.

― Guilty Boksen (Bro_Danielson), Saturday, 9 July 2005 11:47 (twenty years ago)

I'm heading out now probably for the afternoon, can someone text me with any news about Liz if we hear anything? I know a lot of the Londoners are out this afternoon and not reading this, but if anyone can get me a message I'd very much appreciate it. I'll nip in past church on the way to town to light a candle for Liz.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

This is just dreadful. I don't know what to think, or say (that hasn't already been said).

― Mädchen (Madchen), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

best wishes to liz and rob.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:14 (twenty years ago)

Hope.

― J (Jay), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

(What Mädchen just said)

― StanM (StanM), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

i can't add much other than to say that people you've never met are thinking of you and hoping for the best. at least i am.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:28 (twenty years ago)

This is unspeakably awful. I can't imagine how Rob's feeling.

― beanz (beanz), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:39 (twenty years ago)

Should there perhaps be another thread which is updated only when someone hears something about Liz? Because everytime I see this thread has new messages, I keep hoping there's some new info, only to find out there isn't. (No offense meant to all of those who post their best wishes here, that's what this thread is for I guess.)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

There will be a fresh thread created the moment anyone around here gets news of Liz.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 9 July 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

we're thinking of you, rob and liz, and praying for the best.

― simon/grimly fiendish, and fiona, who's a lurker (grimlord), Saturday, 9 July 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20050709/capt.sge.koq71.090705122934.photo03.photo.default-384x201.jpg?x=380&y=198&sig=gLssfjC5sfPz4yvJw4ud.Q--

Is that what I think it is?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 9 July 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

The poster to the far left? It does say "Elizabeth Daplyn", so most probably.

Okay, refreshed this thread some ten or eleven times yesterday. Fully expect to refresh the thread another ten or eleven times today. My thoughts are with Liz and everyone close to her.

― The Kind and Benevolent Oracle of Dee (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 9 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, it is (farthest left, for those who won't know).

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 9 July 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

I've no idea what to say, other than echo all the best wishes and good thoughts expressed on this thread.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 9 July 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

It wasn't entirely legible to me and the pictures rather small so I wasn't sure.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 9 July 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

Really sorry to hear this.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Saturday, 9 July 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

this is incredibly upsetting

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 9 July 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

camden road just outside my house has just been sealed off.. suspect package on a bus about 20 police around

― ken c (ken c), Saturday, 9 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

Someone's trying to organise a demonstration/march/protest:

"I will at the earliest opportunity, assemble in London in a public demonstration of respect to the victims of the July 7 atrocity, defiance of the murderers who carried it out and solidarity with the people of London."

http://www.pledgebank.com/solidarity

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Saturday, 9 July 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

it was just a box in the end.

http://www.lolrider.com/nsfw/bomb.jpg
that's the bomb squad dude, he folded up the box and threw it in that bin

― ken c (ken c), Saturday, 9 July 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

i don't want to push this up the board for obvious reasons, i want this to be pushed up for the good reason, the best reason. this is fucking terrible.

― n_RQ, Saturday, 9 July 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

This is incredibly sad- I don't know what to say other than to say I'm sorry, and I keep praying for the best. For those of us who lost friends in 9/11, there's really nothing to say other than that was the worst period of my life and I don't wish anyone else to go through that. I hope that you find her and she's safe.

― lyra (lyra), Saturday, 9 July 2005 23:33 (twenty years ago)

It's late and I'm really sad about all of this. Love and care to all of you.

― alext (alext), Sunday, 10 July 2005 00:22 (twenty years ago)

So what's happening with Birmingham?

― Mike Stuchbery (Mike Stuchbery), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:12 (twenty years ago)

20,000 ppl evacuated:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4668313.stm

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:24 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, it's just filtering through here - that's pretty unprecedented, isn't it?

― Mike Stuchbery (Mike Stuchbery), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:28 (twenty years ago)

too right.

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

It's strange, I don't really want to intrude on this thread, it feels as though I have no right to do so. I don't want to push it to the top of New Answers for the obvious reasons outlined above but God oh God I feel sick to my stomach. Love, lots and lots of love to, well, all of you, dammit.

― Matt (Matt), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

Matt OTM. i wrote the basically the same thing, then deleted it, then retyped it...

― john'n'chicago, Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

So noone feels like intruding on this thread and others for news on liz I had started this West Midlands Police Issue Security Alert on whats going on in Birmingham.

― Andy Jay, Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:15 (twenty years ago)

My heart sank when I saw that this thread didn't contain the news I had hoped it would. Much love and hope to Liz, her family and friends and all the Londoners.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Sunday, 10 July 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

Like everyone else, I don't want to push this thread back to the top when I don't have anything good to offer.

I just wanted to ask, though, if anyone is still offering text alerts for people who have to go offline. I'm going to London this afternoon, so I'm going to be away from ILX from lunchtime until Thursday. I know Kate has one of my phone numbers and Andrew has the other; if anyone else can offer to contact me then please could they get in touch at this email address?

(I didn't know if Stevem's offer above was still good, or if he is just overloaded with numbers)

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Sunday, 10 July 2005 06:15 (twenty years ago)

Posters of missing bring faint hope amid anguish of family and friends

from the guardian.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 10 July 2005 06:21 (twenty years ago)

The Observer have updated that story by, um, introducing mistakes.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Sunday, 10 July 2005 06:22 (twenty years ago)

forest pines, i am sure stevems offer still stands. Or you can mail me your number - at alixxx at gmail. i was hoping to keep that address private, but i don't really see how it mattters anymore.

― alix (alix), Sunday, 10 July 2005 10:30 (twenty years ago)

Thanks, Alix - email sent.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Sunday, 10 July 2005 10:40 (twenty years ago)

Love to everyone.

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Sunday, 10 July 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

You are in the thoughts of another person who has never met you...

― Bill (bill), Sunday, 10 July 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

I was wondering if there shouldn't be a separate thread just solely for messages of goodwill and support for Liz and Rob. Leave this thread for people to make arrangements to contact each other, link to news updates etc, but maybe copy all the messages of support onto a separate thread for if Rob and, God willing, Liz want evidence of how much we are all rooting for them at this horrible time. May be a silly idea, diluting stuff onto other threads, but it would remove the thing that Forest Pines and others have mentioned of opening this thread with "nothing" to add. Messages of support are not nothing, but maybe it would be a good idea, maybe not, to have somewhere separate to put them. I'm copying this idea to the Moderators Request forum so if anyone wants to tell me this is a stupid idea then go there and do it please.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 10 July 2005 11:50 (twenty years ago)

All my love, Rob and Liz. My thoughts are with you both.

― robin stout, Sunday, 10 July 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

at nearly 600 messages this thread is due for a part three regardless.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 10 July 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

I don't want to push this up to the top of new answers but...I just want to add that I am thinking of and praying for Liz and Rob. This is just too awful. Take care everyone.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 10 July 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

I just had to read this thread to see if there were any updates (vainly hoping that those with my mobile number had mistakenly not updated me via text) & I was totally floored by seeing the picture posted above & seeing Liz's name on those websites. Please God Liz will be OK & this nightmare will be over for Rob & Liz's family & friends.

FWIW, Ailsa, I like your idea.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Monday, 11 July 2005 07:23 (twenty years ago)

Sorry to be off topic, but I thought there was a thread about Liz posted a few days ago, but it seems to have been deleted, I guess to consolidate news.

I can think of little else, but lack the words to even describe what I feel. Liz, I miss you. Please be safe. Rob, my heart goes out to you.

― MIS Information (kate), Monday, 11 July 2005 07:51 (twenty years ago)

I think it was deleted kate as the title was a bit innapropriate, only in as much as people assumed there was some news of Liz from it.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Monday, 11 July 2005 08:04 (twenty years ago)

I haven't really been able to think about much else over the past few days.

What Kate, PinXor, Dr C and everyone else has already said.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 11 July 2005 08:14 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I think the minute I see a new thread, I'll assume it means we have News. That's why I don't mind this thread rising up New Answers. Same old thread = no news. The company of friends is doing keeping me going at the moment, virtually and IRL.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Monday, 11 July 2005 08:26 (twenty years ago)

Apologies for raising the message. But it needs to be always on the current list, right? (Make it "sticky")

I see that more names have been added to the missing list, specifically in the Independant. One is an Elizabeth, anyone confirm the details?

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 11 July 2005 08:58 (twenty years ago)

Yes, Liz' details have been in most of the national papers, and I think even the BBC website now.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 11 July 2005 09:01 (twenty years ago)

There are several links to this upthread.
x-post

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Monday, 11 July 2005 09:02 (twenty years ago)

This is hideous, i read Liz's name in the paper at the weekend and my heart sank. My thoughts are with Liz, Rob and all the London llxors.

― leigh (leigh), Monday, 11 July 2005 09:23 (twenty years ago)

I just walked to King's Cross. Every street corner is filled with correspondents filing reports; every railing has flowers attached; every shelter or hoarding has pictures of the missing (including Liz).

Love to Liz and Rob.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 11 July 2005 10:04 (twenty years ago)

Saw Liz' photo/poster in several papers. Terrible feelings. Best wishes & hopes to liz, rob & everyone who knows them irl.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 10:34 (twenty years ago)

oh no, this is awful news. love to them both.

― Lupton Pitman (Chris V), Monday, 11 July 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Oxford station evacuated late this afternoon. Bomb found on a Virgin train, apparently.

Still feeling sick and upset about the lack of news from Liz. Love to everyone who knows her.

― C J (C J), Monday, 11 July 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

Oh man. I don't think I realized that Liz was missing missing. I thought just no one on ILX was able to get in touch with her. I had no idea her name was in the papers and all of that. Ugh. I do hope she's all right.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 11 July 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

Again, apologies for posting to this thread, but my heart has just been in my mouth for days about this whole thing. Though youre all pretty much total strangers to me, I just wanted to send love and hugs and strong positive vibes to everyone out there.

Also, Ive never met her, but I work at the same place as Archel, and if someone could let her know that if she needs a pal when she gets back, do get in touch with me. Im in Dorset all this week, but back at Sussex from next Monday onwards, do give us a shout if coffee or a pint or just a friendly ear could be of any help. That email address works BTW.

Still hanging out for good news though, so stay in the beam people.

― NickB (NickB), Monday, 11 July 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

x-post CJ - there's nothing on the news about the Virgin trains bomb. False alarm?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 11 July 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

It was on the radio at about 4.30pm this afternoon - train station evacuated, bomb found, controlled explosion on a Virgin train. I can't find anything on the 'net about it and I haven't been near a TV yet this evening. I have mates in Thames Valley Police who'll probably confirm/deny for me later this evening. I hope it was a false alarm.

― C J (C J), Monday, 11 July 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

"Family fear for missing daughter"

I'm heartbroken.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:35 (twenty years ago)

Oh God.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:37 (twenty years ago)

I don't know what to say, I really don't.

― Product of Australia / Kate (papa november), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

Me too, Michael. I'm finding this extremely hard to deal with, and then I think of Rob, and indeed Liz's family as mentioned in that item, and I know what they are going through is immeasurably worse and my heart breaks for them.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:42 (twenty years ago)

"It's a long wait, but most of all, we just need now to have confirmed what we fear is fact."

I'm not going to say anything about this until something has been confirmed.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:44 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps preparing for the worst is the only way they can deal with it.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:45 (twenty years ago)

Oh good God. Oh God. Oh Rob, I don't know what you must be feeling now. You have all my support.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:47 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps preparing for the worst is the only way they can deal with it.

indeed.

though I don't want to say too much either, except that it's still awful and heartbreaking, and all my thoughts are with Rob, and Liz's family.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:48 (twenty years ago)

I've given up trying to pretend I'm not crying in the office. I just want to gather my friends around me and hug every one of them. Especially Rob. Not knowing is horrible.

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:48 (twenty years ago)

I just wish there was some way we could let Liz know how much we care, how much she's been in all our thoughts.

― Product of Australia / Kate (papa november), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:49 (twenty years ago)

The 'not knowing' must be truly dreadful for Liz's family and friends, I can't imagine what they must be going through right now.

love to all

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:51 (twenty years ago)

I just looked up via search, Liz's last conversation on this board.

I can't describe.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:52 (twenty years ago)

Maybe we should stop with these comments until we have confirmation.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:55 (twenty years ago)

Indeed. We all know how bad the odds are, but let's not start on mourning while it is still possible that some surprising chain of events means Liz is alive. On the other hand, given the odds, I'm not intending to give anyone a hard time for it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

(It's the one about whether to go to Trig Brother, to save everyone hammering the search engine. Her most recent post is a lot snappier.)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:01 (twenty years ago)

Up to yesterday, I'd agree.

today, no.

Heck, if she's found and alive, we'll all celebrate. As will the papers!

As I say, I read the Trig brother thread, and god knows how you guys that knew her must be feeling.

Sorry if this is rubbing anyone up wrong, tell me and I'll stop. Actually, I'll stop anyway.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:02 (twenty years ago)

Fuck fuck fuck! I don't think I can read ILX right now. And if I start to cry at my office, I'm pretty sure these people around me wouldn't understand.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:04 (twenty years ago)

To be honest, I have no idea whether they're ok or not.
x-post

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:05 (twenty years ago)

Nobody is really in a position to tell someone what they should or shouldn't do, say and not say in this situation. But I suppose one must think carefully about the implications of documenting thoughts on a public msg board at such a time.

I've been mulling over whether to lock this and have a new thread be started (as suggested by Ailsa) just for outpourings of grief/messages of hope, but I can't quite deal with it personally.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:07 (twenty years ago)

These posts I mean. Everyone must post what they feel they need to post.
x-post
I agree Steve.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:08 (twenty years ago)

Just wanted to re-iterate that I was in no way telling anyone what they should/shouldn't post. It's a personal thing, you have to do what you have to do.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:10 (twenty years ago)

I guess for me it's hard to accept. I never met Liz and I haven't lost many people in my life, but at this point in time I think if her parents believe that Liz has gone then I think that maybe we should allow ourselves that too.

― Product of Australia / Kate (papa november), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:14 (twenty years ago)

On the one hand there's no technical reason to lock this thread, it says news in the title, so the news should go here.

On the other hand, the immediate reaction to any news is grief/hope as we can see just now, so people are unlikely to go back to the New Answers screen and search for the "right" thread to say "Oh god, this is terrible" on. So the news thread will become the emotions thread no matter what.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:15 (twenty years ago)

if you were starting a new thread why would you lock this one though? not that i really care about logistics right now.

i don't want to give up all hope, just yet.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:20 (twenty years ago)

I didn't want this thread locked, but I thought it would be good to have somewhere where people could purely post messages of support, rather than clogging up this thread which should be kept for news, reports, links etc.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:36 (twenty years ago)

Ailsa OTM

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:45 (twenty years ago)

No one wants to be the one to start that thread.

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:49 (twenty years ago)

Some news about the investigation:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4674463.stm

(They are searching houses in West Yorkshire.)

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:52 (twenty years ago)

So, are you going to chase off the people who respond to news with well-wishing, Ailsa? The two seem pretty tied together, looking at this thread and the previous one.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:54 (twenty years ago)

The reason for locking it was just due to the thread size though it could get bigger (can't remember if the first thread was locked when this one was set up now).

Very little actual news relating to the incidents in general being mentioned and commented upon here now though. Not that it's a big problem, just thinking of the practicality of it all.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:54 (twenty years ago)

At the same time i feel like the hope i have that Liz is alive is attached the this thread. And that leaving this thread would be admitting the loss of that hope. This whole thing leaves me numb and i don't even know Liz.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:55 (twenty years ago)

I started this thread as the first was large, and the servers were being hammered so hard that the thread wouldn't load all the way down (which was where the up-to-date news was)

This one is as large, yes, but is loadable. the other isn't locked.

Howabout starting thread three? as a compromise. For news and updates, as this one is.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:00 (twenty years ago)

The first thread is actually locked, but wasn't when it started.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:03 (twenty years ago)

It's not that big, it's not full of pics, it's okay. If this thread is meaning something, however illogical, to Hari (and maybe others) let's not fuck with it. It's true that we won't keep things so separate, so let's not bother trying.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:06 (twenty years ago)

I agree with Hari actually. Starting with a "support" thread, although I think it's a good idea, could perhaps be viewed as a "condolence" thread, which isn't right at the moment. I like that all the threads include everything, I couldn't imagine having to switch threads to post feelings. Although, I seem to keep getting my words all muddled & they come out wrong. The last thing I want to do is to offend or upset anyone at the moment, so if I have, my apologies.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:06 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't even know what to call the new thread! Obviously 'Explosion At Liverpool Street' became out of date pretty rapidly anyway. I don't really have anything of worth to add to this thread (or a new one, probably) so will leave it to someone else.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:07 (twenty years ago)

i don't think a new thread is needed.

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:09 (twenty years ago)

I agree, unless its for reasons of size.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:12 (twenty years ago)

someone might want to do something about Explosion at Liverpool Street - Thread Three (News Updates Go Here) , then.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:12 (twenty years ago)

Well, I guess it doesn't matter, not really.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:14 (twenty years ago)

OK, fair comment, folks. I had just thought, you know, keep em separate, but I realise that's hard to do. It's no big deal, really.

As I said, it may have been a nice gesture for Liz and Robster, if they ever get back round these parts again, to see how people have been pulling for them, without having to wade through the horrific memories the rest of the thread will surely invoke in retrospect.

I had no intention of it turning into a grief/condolence thread. And still I hope to God we never need one of those.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:14 (twenty years ago)

I started that. I leave it up to you people.

Obviously there is no right or wrong way, but

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:15 (twenty years ago)

To whoever posted thread three - sorry for deleting it. This one is still workable I think, and also it's worth remembering that some people have posted on it who aren't ILX regs and may well have it bookmarked.

Ailsa - I think that copying and collating the messages of support would be a worthwhile thing if you want to do that.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:16 (twenty years ago)

I had no intention of it turning into a grief/condolence thread.
That is not what I said.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:18 (twenty years ago)

Fair enough. xpost to Tom.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:19 (twenty years ago)

I don't imagine they'll be ignorant of how people feel. I really don't imagine that this thread will remind them of these times much more than everything else in the world will.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:20 (twenty years ago)

Getting back to news:

Two more victims have now been formally named - Jamie Gordon and Philip Stuart Russell. Two other bodies have been recovered and formally identified but their names will not be announced until the coroner's inquest opens tomorrow.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:21 (twenty years ago)

Andrew OTM.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

xpost to pink: You expressed a concern that others could view it as such, and I just wanted to make it clear that absolutely was not my intention, and to be honest I didn't even thing about it going that way as people seem to be remaining optimistic.

I wish I'd never had the idea now.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

(FWIW, 9/11 threads were all locked and restarted as soon as they got to 100 posts - I guess that was before we had the "only show new answers" option, though.)

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

(what would be good, is if we move the discussions about thread logistics to say the moderator board or something. please)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:35 (twenty years ago)

Does this thing show up on google searches? Vaguely paranoid about tabloid journalists expoiting this.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:36 (twenty years ago)

I second Ken.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

Ken's right - logistics and admin here pls:

London bombings thread

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

I did suggest that too, but no-one took me up on it. Leave it folks, it was a silly idea, I'm sorry. End of.

(thanks Tom)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

It wasn't a silly idea Ailsa & I wish you could believe me when I say that. I'll leave this particular discussion here.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

Just my tuppence'th - start a new thread by all means (part 3), but keep it all together in one thread. News and emotions are so intrinsically linked that it'd be impossible to post news without entirely understandable emotional reactions following it.

(IMHO I am firmly against a supprt thread - this thread is, for better or for worse, 4 real, uncontrived, inclusive, does its job superbly and should continue in this form I think)

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:47 (twenty years ago)

Does this thing show up on google searches? Vaguely paranoid about tabloid journalists expoiting this.

The content of ILX threads is ungooglable, I think.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

As if there weren't enough reasons to hate N1ck Gr1ff1n, here comes another one.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:57 (twenty years ago)

maybe, but talk about it on that thread, not this one.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:04 (twenty years ago)

Through the PA feed at work:

WE’VE GIVEN UP HOPE’ SAYS MISSING WOMAN’S UNCLE
By Nick Foley, PA

The family of a 26-year-old woman missing since the London bomb attacks said today that they had given up hope of finding her alive.
Elizabeth Daplyn was last seen catching a Piccadilly Line train to King’s Cross on Thursday morning as she made her way to the University College Hospital, where she worked as a manager in the neuro-radiology department.
Miss Daplyn, who lived with her partner Rob, in Highgate, north London, has not contacted her family since the devastating blasts, prompting fears she is among the victims of the attacks.
Her uncle, the Rev Tim Daplyn, Priest-in-charge of East and West Harptree with Hinton Blewett, in West Harptree, Somerset, said her parents, Mike and Pam, were in London waiting for news on their daughter.
“We’re at the time where we’re just waiting. The family are in a position where we are waiting for confirmation. We’re waiting to hear what we already know in our hearts to be fact. The tense of the language we are using to describe her has changed to ‘was’ rather than ‘is’.
“Miracles do happen but we’re not expecting one.”
Miss Daplyn grew up in Kent and moved to London after graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Fine Arts.
Her uncle described her as a “talented musician” who once appeared on the BBC quiz show University Challenge.
“When the bombs went off it was very confusing. My own children are up in London and everybody was trying to text each other to let them know that they were okay. But we never heard from Liz.
“Family members have dealt with it in different ways. It’s gut wrenching. It’s come as a complete bolt out of the blue. It was just so unexpected.
“She was very bright, and a talented singer who had a lot of friends. We didn’t realise she had so many until she disappeared.”
He said his older brother Michael, who works and lives abroad, had travelled to London to meet his former wife, who lives in Swansea, and daughter Eleanor as they anxiously waited for confirmation of her death.
“We’re being kept informed every hour but we’ve been told it could be days or even weeks before they identify the victims,” he said.
Mr Daplyn said now was not the time for accusations or demands for explanations on the bomb blasts. He also attacked “revenge attacks” on mosques.
“The cowardly, abusive vandalism on places of worship demeans the memory and lives of those who have lost their lives,” he said.

― Craig Gilchrist (Craig Gilchrist), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

i find this rather awesome.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

I thought that other thread had broken down into a "this wouldn't have happened if we weren't in Iraq" thread, which is why I posted it here. If a mod wants to move it, fine.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:19 (twenty years ago)

(stevem xpost)

except we are, really.

(aldo xpost)

if you read the piece, griffin claims that 7/7 is a direct result of "this wouldn't have happened if we weren't in iraq" so really it belongs on the other thread. seems a bit out of place in what has essentially become a waiting-for-news-on-liz thread.

as far as liz is concerned, i'm with lenny kravitz on this one - it ain't over 'til it's over.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:27 (twenty years ago)

Does this thing show up on google searches? Vaguely paranoid about tabloid journalists expoiting this.

I just de-indexed it, at least for the time being.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

i never knew liz was on university challenge! ha! go liz!
latest news: controlled explosion at one of the raided leeds houses

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

Tim Daplyn was just on BBC News 24. Very odd.

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Having read that bit about Liz, I am remembering being round at Ken's for his birthday party I guess last year sometime, and Ken had just bought Singstar (I bet it's written Sing*Star or something...). There were a lot of stellar performers there that night (Ken, Colette, Cis, for instance) but I won't forget Liz doing modern pop songs (was 'Superstar' one of them?) in the style of, for instance, Julie Andrews. (And still outscoring me by a factor of about eight.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Not only was she on University Challenge, she said "frottage" to Jeremy Paxman.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

except we are, really.

well let everyone speak for themselves i guess. and if you think they're lying, so be it. i like that that montage has contributions from people all around the world at least.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Liz's only answer (it was correct) was "frottage". Paxman smirked. It's my number one TV moment.

(x-post)

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:42 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

I think anyone who claims not to be afraid after what's happened is fibbing or kidding themselves. We know about solidarity, putting up a show of bravery (and I'm not talking about the mind-boggling hypocrisy of Sunday's VE Day "celebrations") finding a face to meet the face, etc., but deep down, when the lights are out? I don't think so. I'm certainly shit scared.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

Well Marcello, I'm not. I've long felt that living in London was risky, relatively, when I could be living at home in a small town on the outskirts of manchester, or in any other small village anywhere else in the country, or whatever. But it's not a risk I've ever been scared to take, and it still isn't.

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

What Jim, says, I do not, never have and never will live in fear.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

That's all very well, but I'm terrified.

― Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

I've always lived my life with fear about something or other, large or small, personal or not. In this respect the terrorists have indeed changed nothing.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, Jim and Ed, much as I like both of you, you're not convincing me here.

I do think, however, that keeping things going on a localised level - e.g. the weekend FAPs - does more to try to normalise life and subjugate fear and uncertainty, even on a temporary level, than lots of Big Statements.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

i'm more afriad of burglars

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry if it makes me a defective human being, marcello, but I am not afraid.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:00 (twenty years ago)

whenever I've felt the (natural and inevitable) fear most in the past couple of days my immediate reaction is one of extreme rage. which conquers the fear somewhat, at least for the time it takes to get on the tube.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

If you can at least convince yourself (if not others) that you are fearless, then you have my unconditional admiration and respect.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

500 evacuated from area in leeds. that would be frightening. 'your neighbours have been involved in terrorist activity, pardon while we explode their cache...'

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

I don't have any fear or phobia about getting on public transport. It's the underlying, nagging fear you can't get rid of. Even if you've seen it happen a million times on the news - when someone you know is involved, then all of a sudden it's the first time it's ever happened.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

Well, that's fair enough M, I don't know if I'm trying to convince anyone anyway. Maybe I'm hoping to reassure instead. Dunno. I just think London is worth it, the place and the people are the best I've known anywhere, that's why I live here. FWIW, I share some doubt about that "not afraid" website, which does feel slightly forced, to me. But hey, people do what they need to do.

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

The Leeds evacuation is about a mile and a half away from me at the moment. I can hear the helicopters overhead.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

I'm very scared for my friends - most of you will know I lost another friend to a hit and run accident last month - but not at all for myself. I've been through, for instance, King's Cross, a bunch of times since Thursday, and felt no fear for my safety at all.

I suspect this has more to do with not caring a great deal about me, rather than bravery.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

i was genuinely afraid on friday, hated getting on the bus, then kind of i-know-this-is-irrational-afraid at moments since. but yeah, definitely a deep-level, 'what next?' type fear as well (though i've had that since 9/11).

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

normalizing life is essential

i didnt feel fear, weirdly, even after having been very close by, and seeing the bus. it didnt really sink in. i got the victoria, district and picadilly lines on friday and didnt feel scared. same over the weekend, and yesterday, didnt feel scared. not as a defiance, i just didnt.

this morning i slept in, and walked to the tube at 830, and realised id be going through more or less the same time as i did on thursday, and i felt apprehensive. 7am felt safe in a way 845 just didnt, and then finsbury park was closed because of a security alert at euston, and i felt it then.

it went away again though, until i read the piece on chemical weapons. i think i need to just not read pieces like that, for my own sanity

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

I think, if getting round london via the tube is your only viable method, it's easier to be more pragmatic about getting back on the tube, rather than saying "I'm not going back into london" when you don't have to.

I loved working there, and I'd do it again if not for the problem of getting home at a reasonable hour, etc...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:09 (twenty years ago)

Just wanted to register the dislocating sense of guilt I feel for being away from home this last year in Sydney, to be in a state of something like rapture thanks to the Olympics, and then frantically waiting for messages from all my family and friends.

All safe thank god, but it was a goddawful strange feeling being on the wrong side of the world seeing places bombed that I know like the back of my proverbial hand.

― lee ward (lee ward), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:10 (twenty years ago)

I am not afraid...to admit that I am scared. I am not going to change what I do or where I go, but I am frightened of this random, unpredictable evil and what it could do to family and friends. I am defiant, but scared.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Dr. C totally OTM.

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Luton Railway Station closed due to car believed to be connected to the attacks being found in the carpark, according to BBC News 24.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:02 (twenty years ago)

luton railway goes into thameslink, i think, nr KC.

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

it sounds from this and from the controlled explosion in leeds that the police aren't completely in the dark.

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

yes, i am encouraged by that

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Was this covered anywhere on ILX?:
"In his interview with BBC London, Sir Ian Blair said "some of the agonies" of recent days "would be solved" by identity cards."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4674463.stm

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

I forgot add that I would happily slaughter Nick Griffin with my bare hands. In fact it's becoming an ambition. Our tolerance and commitment to free speech is fantastic, but I've had enough of this creature. Let's just have it done with. So Google me, BNP Leader Nick Griffin, watch your back, you vile racist piece of shit.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

Well, it's clear that they're taking action. Whether this action has anything to do with anything remains to be seen.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:12 (twenty years ago)

it says they did the controlled explosion just to gain entry to the house! wtf?

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Mum just called to say Liz's Dad was on the one o'clock news and is likely to be on the six o'clock as well - she didn't want me to come home this evening and get a shock, so she rang me at work, bless her.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, someone on this thread or the one before mentioned the ID cards thing. It's like they say in the article: they wouldn't have done much good in preventing it, but they would make IDing much easier. Except that IDing is mostly being held up by the need to clear people's names first.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

(allegedly)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

"it says they did the controlled explosion just to gain entry to the house! wtf?"

Booby trapped door

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

Controlled explosions come in all sizes (xpost).

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

I was just thinking it was opportunistic timing to mention ID cards.

xpost

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but this is one of few things they're good at.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

Madchen, it's Liz's uncle who was on the news (just seen him on News 24), not her dad.

He seems a very peaceful and calm man (he's a minister) which must be a comfort to Liz's family at this time.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

(x-post)

It is Liz's uncle (the vicar) on the one o'clock news. You can see it on the BBC website under "More victims named" on the video server. He speaks very, very well.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

Hello. This is my 1st time posting any comments. I'm an American and I've watched your thread since Thursday. I've watched because I wanted to get a sense of what real people are thinking. My heart goes out to all of you...Liz and Rob especially.

To all of you dealing with fear, may I suggest that if you can, stop watching the news for a while. I had to do that after 9/11 because my 10 year old son was asking if there was any chance suicide bombers could get into the local mall where we live. Anyway, this comment is already too long. I don't know what else to say except to let you know that people all over the world are with you. God Bless

― Shayne Welch, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

News: Bomber apparently died on bus, related arrests made in Leeds

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4674463.stm

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

there are a lot of speedy developments! and controlled explosions...
wow! go cops! get those baddies! (am i wrong to be excited by this? it's little comfort, but at least it's something...)

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

I don't think you're wrong, dahlin. I imagine they figured out somehow who the guy on the bus was and then went to his place up North.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

they seem to knwo a lot more than that...
now they're saying 'all of the four bombers are believe to be british born' and 'more than one may have died in the bombings'
they know exactly how many were involved?
this is advancing quite rapidly...
they bus bomber would have been pretty dumb to be carrying id on him, but looking like a possibility. yet more evidence he wasn't planning to blow himself up

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

Is the general consensus in Britain that the bomber on the bus was a bit of a fuck up?

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

pretty much. either that or a diabolical plot to maximise carnage by playing on the fact that people would be flocking to buses from closed underground stations. but i think we're leaning toward the former

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

From The Guardian:

Attend a vigil

A vigil will be held in Trafalgar Square at 6pm on Thursday July 14. The names of the people who died will be read out and poems of remembrance will be recited.

I think I might want to go to this.

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

wow. all four bombers dead.. three on tube were suicide bombers...

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:52 (twenty years ago)

Does this mean they anticipate actually having identified the victims by then? At the moment, they've only released the names of three people, with a further two identified but details kept from the press at the request of their families.

BBC News 24 now confirming they believe that the tube bombs were the actions of suicide bombers. Though tellingly they are reporting those three as suicide bombers and mentioning the guy on the bus separately, again making me believe that it was some kind of cock-up rather than a suicide bomber.

(xpost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

I posted this on the other thread:
On ABC News last night they said the delay in naming the dead is that they're doing background checks on everyone to ensure they aren't a suspect. That would explain an awful lot.

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

wow, fuck this news is thick and fast. #4 must be a fuck-up, as expected.

― N_RQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

i'm glad i'm not the only one glued to the television. i was beginning to feel like a dedicated ile news correspondent...

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Now they're saying there may be up to six. If you know any of these men, please let the police know.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/furniture/in_depth/uk/2001/life_of_crime/miscarriages_justice/birmingham_six_100.jpg

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

I hope at least one of them is still alive to be arrested and put on trial.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

argh. this newscaster keep pressing the 'is this a predominantly asian community then?'
thankfully the reporters keep clarifying and trying to downplay such crazy assumptions... how annoying

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

Didn't the bus pick up a load of people coming out of King's Cross?

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

Press Conference on now.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

BIG and specific news coming through now...I'm tuned in to Radio 5.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Dammit, can't get any of this stuff at work, and nothing is being updated to BBC website yet.

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

Material found in W. Yorks causes police to evacuate some of the public. 4 men suspected and property belonging to all of them found at each bomb scene.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

kate: they know who the bombers are. four of them traveled to kings cross together, their ids found near the blasts...the family of one of them called to report him missing two hours after the attack..
i really feel for the families of these bombers, especially the one who reported their son missing and have likely been waiting for news like everyone else, only to find out he's partly responsible.

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

one man arrested, bringing him to london.. six arrest warrants issued

― dahlin (dahlin), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

Travelled by train from Leeds to London. Property belonging to one of them men found at two (?) of the bomb scenes.

News.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

All 4 men identified on CCTV footage.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

they just said that they know who the 4 bombers were, and that they all died in the blasts, basically. they have cctv footage at king's x, personal id at 3 of the 4 sites (not the picadilly line), and forensic evidence that one died at aldgate, i think they said. also the one on the number 30 was reported missing by his family at 10am on the day.

(x-post)

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

W Yorks police conference on now.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

Personal documents found belong to:
Man A: Bus
Man B: Aldgate
Man C: Aldgate and Edgware Road

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

Police chief just asked people not to dial 999 just to ask questions abou the investigation (!).

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:19 (twenty years ago)

6 properties searched in Leeds total. presumably not all houses?

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

are they suggesting one of the houses was booby trapped or something? am I being stupid?

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

Reporeted missing by his family - I never thought of that as a possible route to identification. This sounds like fantastic forensic and police work.

The fact that these look like being home-grown bombers and suicides is freaking me out though.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

also the one on the number 30 was reported missing by his family at 10am on the day.

they somehow established that he's missing at 10am??

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

This sounds like fantastic forensic and police work.

OTM. Top class job being done here.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

they somehow established that he's missing at 10am??

Pure speculation, but I'd guess "missing" in this case meant "vanished from home without telling anyone", i.e. yr common-or-garden "missing person".

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:28 (twenty years ago)

they somehow established that he's missing at 10am??

Well, he was presumably missing because he wasn't where he would normally be in Leeds. It doesn't say they reported him missing in response to the attacks.

― Venga (Venga), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

News abuzz with discussion of "homegrown terrorism".

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

maybe i misheard, ken. i thought that's what they said, though.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

even if it was in response to the attacks, i would imagine that a lot of people panicked and reported relatives/loved ones missing quite quickly if they were unreachable and known to be in london.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

This sounds like fantastic forensic and police work.
OTM. Top class job being done here.

I find this immensely reassuring. I am also reassured to know that the bombs were suicide bombers and not remotely triggered.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

I heard that, too.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

quite sad for the family of the bomber, in that case.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

English Grissoms did their job spectacularly quickly. I am feeling reassured. And relieved.

x-x-xpost

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

But (if memory serves) by 10 o'clock it was still mysterious power surges.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

(that was to Lauren)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

No - by 10am the bus had exploded and that was when people went OH NO! BOMBS OH NO!!!

(Anyway, it's entirely possible that it was a standard missing persons report and nothing to do with the bombs.)

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

I am also reassured to know that the bombs were suicide bombers and not remotely triggered.

Whereas for me it's quite the opposite. One would hope that with remote bombing there is a chance that people can be extra vigilant and notice unattended bags and packages more readily. With suicide bombers this is not as likely thus harder to stop.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

2,500 hours of CCTV footage were reviewed and they were able to identify four men from that. Incredible.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

However, Stevem, it does mean FOUR LESS BRUTAL F*CKING TERRORIST BASTARDS WALKING THE EARTH.

sorry, [/daily mail reader anger]

― MIS Information (kate), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Seems to me the authorities may have intentionally created a backlog of developments -- all to be revealed to the public in more-or-less one fell swoop -- to surprise possible accomplices and sympathizers.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Good point stevem, but this way you know that some of the swine are dead and not at large planning new attacks. Yeah, what Kate said.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Probably more like 50 hours from the 2% of active CCTV cameras.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Check the other thread. First post about the bus was 10:04.

Four guys travel to London together and there's one dead at each site. That's pretty fucking watertight, isn't it?

― grraham (noodles is a cunt), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

That's still a lot of info/activity from an investigation only four days old!

xxp

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

> are they suggesting one of the houses was booby trapped or something?

the bombers responsible for spanish explosions blew themselves up rather than let themselves be captured so it was always a possibility.

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

Oh, absolutely. I can't exactly remember at what point after 9/11 (or the '93 WTC bombing) (or Oklahoma City) American authorities were able to identify suspects. Time for Wikipedia.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

I'm really glad they've identified who did it. (Though a small, small, small, small part of me worries that the pressure to 'Find Out Who Did This, Pronto!' may lead to wrongful arrests. But I doubt it.)

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

First WTC bombing was February 26, 1993; according to Wikipedia, "On March 4, 1993 authorities announced the capture of one of the suspected bombing conspirators Mohammad Salameh and exactly one year later four terrorists were convicted for their roles in the bombing."

Oklahoma City: "Timothy McVeigh, a Gulf war veteran, was arrested by an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman within an hour of the explosion after being pulled over for not having a license plate." Dumbass.

Can't find any exact data on 9/11 just yet, but check out what Wikipedia says about Mohammad Atta's current whereabouts under "Where is he now?"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

i live in burley (leeds), i guess i wont be able to go back home then.

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

Would it also not be easier to identify victims (dead or alive)? I sometimes wonder what happens when a person is run over and is in a coma. How do you identify the person? They're unconscious and can't really identify themselves. Of course now with bank cards, it's easier, but still...

I realize it won't prevent attacks like these, but it would make life easier in some ways. They are trying to *collect* info on our ID cards - like have your social security number etc - as they will contain chips so it's easier to have more info in the database.

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

I seem to remember that they had solid leads for the 9/11 hijackers a few days after the attacks. They were pretty sloppy, or made no effort to cover their trail.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

Well they wanted to be known so they could be hailed as martyrs didn't they?

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Just saying, finding leads in this case so quickly does not seem out of the ordinary.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

Radio is reporting a "security scare" at the Houses of Parliament. All exits/entrances closed but the buildings haven't been evacuated.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Hi guys.

You've probably already come to this conclusion, but there has still been no official confirmation. We do know that all survivors have been successfully identified and that they're still working on the Kings Cross site. And we've been told it may be take up to another week before we receive formal confirmation.

Rob is surrounded by family and he's asked me to again thank everyone for all their outpourings of love and support.

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:07 (twenty years ago)

Marianna, I'm in California so there's very little of any consequence I can do to console Rob or you or any of the other Londoners. I wonder if you might, if you deem it appropriate, ask Rob if there's any charity we could donate a little something to in her name.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

I've not really got the words. My heart and thoughts are with Liz's family and with Rob.

― Al_Ewing, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:23 (twenty years ago)

Marianna, thank you immensely for the time you've spent with Rob over the last five days. I doubt I could do so for more than an hour, and I'm sure everyone here would agree that you're a complete angel.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:25 (twenty years ago)

much sadness, even more love. :(

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:43 (twenty years ago)

i wish the greatest strength to rob and liz's family in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.

lest that sound a bit pat: i find it incredibly upsetting just to contemplate such a thing happening-- i mean, literally happening, taking place--to someone i may not know personally, but who i know through posts here. perhaps there's something selfish about this reaction. i don't know. whatever love can be expressed on a post on an internet messaging board, consider it expressed.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 22:58 (twenty years ago)

i should add that i wish strength to all of liz's friends who i've interacted with here on ilx.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 23:00 (twenty years ago)

godspeed, liz. xxx

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

My heart keeps breaking everytime I read this thread or the newspapers and think about how awful this is for everyone.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 00:22 (twenty years ago)

What Amateurist said.

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 00:35 (twenty years ago)

I can't think of anything to add. I wish this were a bad dream. My heart goes out, constantly, to Rob and to Liz's family.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 00:38 (twenty years ago)

the day after the bombings, I had a pretty sleepless night. I was tossing and turning and having these dreams, which seem sort of stupid maybe, but they all involved an announcement being made which Liz explained, in some rather charming manner, why she had yet to post and that she was just fine. And each time I'd wake up and check these threads and it wouldn't be the case. I've yet to meet her and don't recall much of our interactions other than some kind birthday wishes she extended me one time, some joshing back and forth, etc. But still, I do feel like I know her and I feel like I'm half-assing it on here these days, because it's at the forefront of my mind.

― Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)

dear lord, i have not the words...

― kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 00:51 (twenty years ago)

I've had the same sorts of dreams, Gear. I've rushed to the computer every morning since this has happened and refreshed ILE in hopes that the dream came true. Heck, this whole dream scenario has transferred itself over to my waking life, to where my mind is constantly preoccupied with "I wonder"s.

On a purely selfish level, I wish that she had read the last thing I posted to the "Piercing babies' ears" thread, because I didn't want her o feel like I had taken offense by what she had said therein. I think what she had said was just indicative of varying ideas of what "normalcy" is and not at all a slam on the "brown people". I guess these thoughts preoccupy me as well because that's the one time I can remember where I actually directly interacted with her.

This is SO going to be an impetus for me to try to get to know as many people here as I can. So I can actually feel like I know everyone. Anyway. Enough self-centered thinking. My thoughts continue to be with Liz's family and Rob. And Liz too.

― The Kind and Benevolent Oracle of Dee (Dee the Lurker), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

there aren't a lot of words. love to all.

― juliaaa, Wednesday, 13 July 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

i never know what to say. my heart goes out to all.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

This is all terrible. Liz and Rob have been in my thoughts as well, but it's not as if that has given me anything better to say than that.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 05:05 (twenty years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4677603.stm

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 05:07 (twenty years ago)

I wish I could turn the clock back. This sadness is almost unbearable - I can't even begin to imagine how much worse it must be for those of you who were lucky enough to have known Liz personally.

My love to you all.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 05:12 (twenty years ago)

I've started two new threads.

Liz Daplyn is a thread for Liz.

London Bombings - News Updates, Ongoing Developments, etc. is a thread for continued news updates on the attacks in general.

If someone could lock this I'd be grateful.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 05:50 (twenty years ago)

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