Hunt for bombers begins after 37 die in London blast Friday, July 8 2005 10:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
London:
A massive hunt was under way today (July 8, 2005) for the bombers who wrought carnage on underground trains and blew up a double-decker bus in London, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 700.
Prime Minister Tony Blair promised to track down the perpetrators of the worst terror attack ever in Britain.
"There, of course, will now be the most intense police and security service action to make sure we bring those responsible to justice," the grim-faced British leader told the nation in a televised address.
Scotland Yard spokesman Alan Crookwood said the investigation was "a very high priority."
Three explosions tore apart packed underground trains and one peeled the top off a double decker bus yesterday.
Blood-spattered and crying, thousands staggered into the streets, the entire underground rail network was shut down and terror replaced the euphoria of a day earlier when London was named the host of the 2012 Olympic games.
The synchronized blasts, detonated without warning, were over in 56 minutes:
8:51 am (13.21 IST): a blast hits between Liverpool Street and Aldgate underground stations, killing seven people.
8:56 am (13.26 IST): an explosion detonates in the underground near the central King's Cross-station. A further 21 die.
9:17 am (13.47 IST): a device explodes at Edgware Road underground station, the western part of the centre of the city, slicing through a carriage, a wall and, police say, into two other trains. Seven people are killed.
9:47 am (14.17 IST): An explosion blows apart the number 30 double-decker bus from east London's Hackney to central Marble Arch. Two die.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Osama bin Laden's global terrorist network, Al-Qaeda, seemed to be behind the atrocities
"These outrages bear the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda related terrorist cells," he said.
"That is obviously the principle assumption on which the police and intelligence agencies are operating."
The country reacted with defiance.
"They should not and they must not succeed," said Blair, who interrupted a Group of Eight summit to fly London for a meeting of the government's emergency committee and to speak to the country.
"When they try to intimidate us we will not be intimidated. When they seek to change our country or our way of life by these methods we will not be changed. When they try to divide our people or weaken our resolve, we will not be divided and our resolve will hold firm."
Memories of the World War II blitz attacks on London overcame the press.
"Our spirit will never be broken," blared the front-page of The Sun, the country's best-selling tabloid. "If the terrorists want a fight, by God, we'll give it them."
The Times' editorial expressed "revulsion and resolve."
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