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Friday, September 15, 2017
Terror attack in London
London tube explosion: video shows burning device as police launch terrorism inquiry – latest updates
Follow live updates as police investigate explosion on train at
Parsons Green underground station in which several people were injured
Police forensic officers have been seen investigating trains where the explosion took place.
Police forensics officers works alongside an underground
tube train at a platform at Parsons Green underground tube station
Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Fitzgerald who lives next to the station witnessed the aftermath.
I can see the tube platform at Parsons Green from my window where I
live. As I was taking my son to school I opened my front door and
suddenly heard lots of passengers screaming on the tube platform, which
is above ground. My entire street filled with people leaving the station in a panic. Lots of people were running, some were crying and others were just
walking really fast. They were all pouring out and I was worried
something serious going on. I took my son back into the house to keep him safe and then went
outside to find out more about what was happening. There was just so
much confusion, some rumours were being spread about a knife man on the
loose but I don’t think that was true. I live near the back end of tube
so I am guessing most people were leaving via the front entrance. I have no idea how many people would have been injured but someone
came out and said someone had been burned. There was one woman in floods
of tears walking toward me and guy behind her on bike, and he was
saying “it’s just an accident don’t worry”. No one knew what was happening and even though many people were
leaving, some were still on the platforms. I don’t know whether they
were hurt or witnesses but they were wandering up and down. Our street is now cordoned off and the police have told us to leave
the house. My children are at school and we believe this is the safest
place for them in the meantime.
Olaniyi Shokumbi Photograph: Owen Bowcott
Olaniyi Shokumbi, 24, a fitness instructor had joined the district
line tube on the way to work. He said: “I had my headphones on and was
listening to music. The train had got to Parsons Green. Some people had
got off, some had got on. “I looked to my left and I saw hundreds of people running up. I heard shouting and screaming. I ran out as well. “It was tightly packed as we were all trying to get out of the
station at the same time. People were pushing each other, falling on the
floor. There were school kids. “I saw people jumping not caring where they landed or whether they broke bones. They were leaping over the barriers.” Amid the panic, he said he saw a woman on the floor. “I didn’t know
whether she was breathing. There was a little boy on the train station,
screaming and crying and saying he couldn’t find his little brother.” Shokumbi continued: “Coming out of the station, I initially thought
it was an acid attack. I didn’t hear the explosion because I had my
headphones on.” “I went to check my sister was alright at Lady Margaret School. Some girls had still not arrived and registered.” Shokumbi said the train had just started to move when the explosion occurred. “I just hope no one has lost their life. “I feel sorry for a lot of people. There was kids falling on the floor. It was crazy. It’s the time kids all go to school. “People started running from the back end of the train. I was about
two or three carriages away. There was a lot of people running out.”
Mayor of London,
Sadiq Khan, said the city “utterly condemns the hideous individuals who
attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life”. He urged Londoners to “remain calm and vigilant”.
The United Kingdom terrorism threat level is at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. Since March 2017 at least three attacks blamed on an Islamist
motivation have claimed lives in Britain, with officials saying that a
further six plots have been thwarted. One attack in June was blamed on
an extreme right wing motivation. On Thursday, reacting to news of a 68% increase in terrorism related
arrests, the senior national coordinator for counter terrorism policing,
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said:“There is no doubt that
since March and following the attacks in London
and Manchester we have seen a shift-change in momentum. But while the
terrorist threat has increased in recent months, so has our activity;
reflected by this significant increase in arrests. “We’re taking every possible opportunity to disrupt terrorist
activity – be it making arrests for terrorism offences, intervening
where there are signs of radicalisation, or working with communities to
prevent terrorists operating in their area. “Police, together with the security services are determined to make
the UK as hostile an environment for terrorists as possible.” Police say there have been a total of 19 foiled plots since June 2013.
A police helicopter hovered low over Fulham Road which has been
closed. Only ambulances and police cars are being allowed through. Buses that had their journeys abruptly terminated this morning are
parked, empty, on the side of the road, beyond the security tapes. Flats and homes in a large area beyond the tube station are being evacuated.
Peter, one of those injured in the incident, said his hair was singed and head burned by a “fireball”. Speaking to BBC News as he waited to be treated in a carpet shop in Wandsworth Bridge Road, he said:
I heard a large bang on the other side of the tube train. Then this
fireball above my head has come and singed all my hair. I’ve got burn
marks to the top of my head. Everyone just ran off the train. It was
quite scary. It was a really hot intense fireball above my head. There was a lot
of people a lot worse than me. I saw a gentleman in a puffer jacket and
the whole back of that had been burned. He had burn marks across his
face which were a lot worse than mine. Mostly it was facial injuries, I didn’t see any blood as such. It was sheer panic. Everyone jumped off the train.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club, founded by Wolfgang Hampel, has members in 40 countries.
Wolfgang Hampel, author of Betty MacDonald biography interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends. His Interviews have been published on CD and DVD by Betty MacDonald Fan Club. If you are interested in the Betty MacDonald Biography or the Betty MacDonald Interviews send us a mail, please.
Several original Interviews with Betty MacDonald are available.
We are also organizing international Betty MacDonald Fan Club Events for example, Betty MacDonald Fan Club Eurovision Song Contest Meetings in Oslo and Düsseldorf, Royal Wedding Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event in Stockholm and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fifa Worldcup Conferences in South Africa and Germany.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Members are Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter and described as Kimi in Betty MacDonald's The Plague and I, Betty MacDonald's nephew, artist and writer Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald fans and beloved authors and artists Gwen Grant, Letizia Mancino, Perry Woodfin, Traci Tyne Hilton, Tatjana Geßler, music producer Bernd Kunze, musician Thomas Bödigheimer, translater Mary Holmes and Mr. Tigerli.
