Thursday, July 7 2005 20:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: More than 33 people were killed in four explosions that rocked London's Underground network and a bus today (July 7, 2005), it was officially stated.

British Transport Police blamed the explosions in the subway on some power surges, which, they said, took place at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations in central London affecting the entire Underground system.

The Cabinet is holding a meeting at the Downing Street but Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been briefed about the developments, is not attending it as he is in Gleneagles, Scotland, for the G-8 summit.

Reports of explosions on buses

A spokesman quoted by BBC said there were a "quite a large number of casualties" as Aldgate Tube Station and Scotland Yard confirmed one of the three reports of explosions on the buses in the city at Tavistock Place but said the cause was not known.

"At 0850 hrs (IST) we were called to Aldgate station to assist the City of London Police and British Transport Police regarding an incident on the Underground system," a spokeswoman said.

"There have been further reports of multiple explosions in London. It is too early to say what has caused these explosions," she said.

The Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and City of London Police are working together to ensure officers are deployed to each scene.

British news agency PA also quoted union officials as saying sources had told them there had been at least one explosive device on the Underground.

Scotland Yard said they were assisting with a "major incident" and said there were casualties. Police confirmed an explosion destroyed a double-decker bus at Russell Square in central London and Dow Jones Newswires said police were reporting explosions on at least two others buses.

London Ambulance Service said several vehicles had been dispatched to the area near Liverpool Street station. The London Fire Brigade said four crews were at Liverpool Street and more were on their way.

Eye-witness

A passenger, who had left the Tube at Fenchurch Street Station, and walked to Aldgate East, told BBC that he saw injured people.

"As I walked through the bus station I could see people lying on the ground, black, as if they'd been covered in smoke. There were about three or four people on the floor being treated."

Describing the Russell Square bus blast, eyewitness Belinda Seabrook told the UK's Press Association news agency that she saw an explosion rip through the bus as it approached the Square.

"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double decker bus was in the air," she said.

She said the bus was travelling from Euston to Russell Square and had been "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Line between Aldgate and Liverpool Street has been evacuated. King's Cross, Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations have also been cleared.

The incident caused major disruption to the entire network with stations across the capital being closed. Passengers were told that all services were being suspended because of a power fault across the network.

A City of London Police spokesman said, "We have closed Liverpool Street station as well as Aldgate....There are some walking wounded at Aldgate. "We are not sure of the scale of the incident. Reports are still coming in."

Home Secretary Charles Clarke advised people not to travel into London. "I would advise people not to make unnecessary journeys at this stage in order to help the police and emergency services deal with the situation."