London attacked

--UPDATED REGULARLY--(scroll down)

I arrived home from work today to learn of the bombings in London, and am currently trying to get caught up on what's happening as I'm typing this. As is customary these days, it's easy to suffer from information overload when faced with the sheer amount of data coming from these attacks. But I'll attempt to sift through it anyway...

Basic information on the attacks can be found in this Fox News article.

LONDON -- A series of four explosions struck London's public transportation system Thursday...At least 37 people were reported dead and at least 700 were wounded, according to officials.

...Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick of the Metropolitan Police, the capital's police force, told a press conference that there had been seven confirmed fatalities in the first subway blast, 21 in the second and five in the third, which may have affected three trains near the Edgware Road train station.

In the fourth explosion, which involved a double-decker bus, he said there were also fatalities, but no firm numbers.

...As the city's public transit system ground to a near-halt, buses were used as ambulances and an emergency medical station was set up at a hotel.

Rescue workers, police and ordinary citizens streamed into the streets to help. At the scene of several blasts, specialist emergency workers in orange hazardous-materials suits searched for evidence of biological, chemical or nuclear agents.

Fox News also has a helpful minute-by-minute timeline of the attacks.

U.S. authorities are raising the terror alert level to orange for rail and mass transit systems. NYC and DC are on heightened alert. Security is being tightened worldwide in case of further attacks.

An al-Qaeda affiliated group calling itself "The Secret Cell of Al-Qa'ida of Jihad Group in Europe" (Jama'at al-Tanzim al-Sirri, Tanzim Qa'idat al-Jihad fi Urupa) posted a statement on a jihadist website claiming responsibility for the attacks. The link has been shut down, but reprinted here:

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him.

Nation of Islam and Arab nation: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahideen have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters.

We have repeatedly warned the British Government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahideen exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid.

We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused.

God says: "You who believe: If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly."

Certainly, many telltale signs of these attacks point to al-Qaeda: the selection of targets (trains, buses) in addition to the simultaneous, coordinated timing of the bombings draw inescapable parallels to the Madrid 3/11 attacks. National Review points out the start of the trial (in London) of radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri. Others believe the culprits could be anti-G8/anti-globalization protesters trying to interrupt the G8 summit in Scotland. Investigations are continuing to confirm the identity of the attackers.

Tons of great information amassed at the Counterterrorism Blog; their London bombing post is being updated regularly as new information surfaces.

Chrenkoff is updating his London post regularly as well. He also has a map of the blasts.

The BBC has pictures; not sure how long the link will be active. More pictures can be found here. More here.

The BBC talks to eyewitnesses.

Britain's Guardian: 'The whole of the front of the building was covered with blood.' See a photo here.

Detailed information on the double-decker bus bombing in Russel Square from Britain's SkyNews.

Breaking news...SkyNews is reporting evidence points to the attack on the bus being the work of a suicide bomber.

The G8 leaders interrupted what must have been a fractious meeting to show a united front against terrorism. You can watch videos of the G8 leaders addressing the press here.

Blair left for London, but not before making clear his nation would not be intimidated by these attacks, and that Britain was more determined than ever to defeat terror. Read his full address here.

"It is important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in their desire to impose extremism upon the world."

London's most infamous idiot leftist, George Galloway (who attempted to defend himself in Congress about his dealings with Iraq's Oil-For-Food scandal), hasn't missed the opportunity to blame Blair's involvement in Iraq for causing the bombings.

This Brit announces that his people will never cower or give in to terrorist threats:

And I think that's true. I don't think we ever will be slaves. I have no doubt that we can be killed, that we could even be conquered or beaten, but not that we would cower like slaves, give in to threats of further violence.

More defiance against terror:

I'm in Washington. I walked to work from my hotel this morning, because it was quite close. But I have a lunch scheduled with an editor in the district near the White House, and I was planning to take the Metro to get there. Should I, will I now take a cab instead?

No.

That's what they want. There are many who cannot afford cabs, or cars. For them the subway is their lifeline. At least one of the goals of these creatures is to scare them away from it, to once again damage our economy (as I watched the coverage of the London carnage, all of the stock index futures were down steeply this morning). To once again strike fear into our hearts. To once again prevent us from doing the things that we want, and often must do.

No, when I go downtown today, I'll ride the train under the river, with those who must, just as I would had I woken up this morning to normal--the latest shark attack and insipid interviews with friends of neighbors of one of the Aruba accused. Though I love life, it must be a life worth living, and that is not one cowering in fear from impotent madmen who rejoice in death, and would force our participation in a misogynistic and deranged medieval fantasy. I will carry on.

They will not win.

More to come as new details emerge...

**UPDATED 07/07/05 3:41 PM:

Time has a photo essay of the bombings and aftermath.

Tony Blair has made another statement. Video can be found on this BBC page.

I think we all know what they are trying to do, they are trying to use the slaughter of innocent people to cow us, to frighten us out of doing the things we want to do, of trying to stop us going about our business as normal as we are entitled to do and they should not and must not succeed.

When they try to intimidate us, we will not be intimidated, when they seek to change our country, 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.

We will show by our spirit and dignity and by a quiet and true strength that there is in the British people, that our values will long outlast theirs.

The purpose of terrorism is just that, it is to terrorise people, and we will not be terrorised.

Blair is now back at the G8 summit.

London mayor Ken Livingstone, although a leftist, showed in his excellent public statement that not all liberals are immune to comprehending terrorism:

This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.

That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I'm proud to be the mayor of that city.

Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.

I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.

In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don't want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."

For an example of a liberal who doesn't understand the war we're in, read the absurd statements made about the War on Terror by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) just yesterday.

Belmont Club has analysis of the attacks:

These coordinated attacks are, technically speaking, at far higher level of sophistication than the Madrid attacks of 3/11 which involved a single train. The attack on London was a "time on target" attack which required simultaneity so that one incident did not compromise the subsequent. By implication the personnel involved received some degree of training and planned the operation in sufficient secrecy to prevent British security services from getting wind of it. The six attacks probably mean that a minimum of forty persons were involved, if those in support roles are included. The attackers must have an egress plan or access to safe houses where they can weather the inevitable crackdown.

Insular Britain, which fought a long terrorist war against the IRA is one of the hardest targets in the Western world. There is no reason, in principle, why similar attacks cannot happen on a larger or deadlier scale in some American or Australian city, less prepared than London -- or indeed anyplace in the world -- such as Thailand, India or the Philippines -- where they have happened already. As long as Islamic fundamentalist terror exists danger will exist. Liberals may believe that accommodation, appeasement or flattery can change this correspondence. But terrorism will remind the world as often as it needs reminding that there isn't room enough on the planet for Islamic terror and civilization.

**UPDATED 07/07/05 4:12 PM:

CNN has a city-by-city summary of increased U.S. security.

British law enforcement is launching a massive manhunt for the bombers and any other terror cell members.

CTB's Steve Emerson notes the increasing sophistication of these bombings (compared to Madrid, in which only one train was hit, these involved 4 simultaneous strikes), and the fact that British intelligence, arguably the best in Europe, recieved no forewarning of the attacks.

**UPDATED 07/07/05 4:23 PM:

CTB is linking to a WSJ article (subscription req'd) that reports the British are seeking a Moroccan man, Mohamed Guerbouzi, in connection with the attacks.

Mr. Guerbouzi has been under investigation in Britain in connection with two previous attacks, a 2003 suicide bombing in Morocco and last year's attack on commuter trains in Spain. Mr. Guerbouzi held a senior position in the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, or GICM, investigators say. He has been living in Britain for about a decade, the police official said on condition of anonymity.

Blogger Nathan Lanier is running an extremely extensive roundup post with much more information. (Hat tip: Instapundit)

Also via Instapundit: the Law and Terrorism Page keeps tabs on nearly every new development, with helpful links to all related posts to keep it organized.

**UPDATED 07/07/05 4:48 PM:

Captain's Quarters issues a ringing call to Britons to stand firm -- and to say "We're with you." It eloquently expresses of the feelings of many Americans, including myself. Worth reading.

Hugh Hewitt links to a report that British authorities warned the Israeli embassy of a possible terrorist attack in the city just minutes before the bombs went off.

**UPDATED 07/07/05 9:04 PM:

Belmont Club has more extensive analysis of the London bombings. His writing, as always, never fails to disappoint:

Just a few comments in the aftermath of the attack on London. The first and most important hard fact to grasp is that this Al Qaeda strike, their first against an Anglosphere city since 9/11, has caused much less damage than that on New York. This despite the fact that Al Qaeda has had nearly four years to brood on its humiliations and losses and to plot its revenge. The reasons for this are simple: the enemy is now operating in a much more hostile environment. The accessible methods of mass destruction, such as wide body aircraft, have been secured; not perfectly, but for a defense to work it must only be sufficient to blunt the onslaught of the enemy. Increased surveillance, tighter controls on movement, etc have all played their part. The second reason the enemy is weaker is Iraq. It is widely accepted that thousands of Al Qaeda fighters, the cream of their rancid crop, is fighting to expel the American infidel from the Land Between the Rivers. A moment's reflection will show that if they are there they cannot be elsewhere -- in London, Paris, Rome or Boston -- sowing bombs on buses and trains. Furthermore, fear in formerly smug circles within Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Libya at sharing the fate of Saddam have left terrorists have fewer powerful confederates.

Hugh Hewitt notes a strange coincidence: Rudolph Guliani was in London this morning, and actually only a short distance away from one of the bombing sites.

In other news, according to Chrenkoff, one of the British government ministers' response to George Galloway's treasonous statements was that:

[Galloway is] "dipping his poisonous tongue in a pool of blood."

Gotta love the Brits.

**UPDATED 07/08/05 11:11 PM:

Don't miss Mark Steyn's ever-brilliant commentary on the bombings. He notes the scope of the killers' destruction was only measured by their "ambition and manpower." In other words, if they had the resources and personell to simultaneously bomb 30 trains yesterday, they would have.

Also from the column:

"The choice for Britons now is whether they wish to be Australians post-Bali or Spaniards post-Madrid."

Steyn also issues this warning:

This is the beginning of a long existential struggle, for Britain and the West. It's hard not to be moved by the sight of Londoners calmly going about their business as usual in the face of terrorism. But, if the governing class goes about business as usual, that's not a stiff upper lip but a death wish.

Also very worth your time: Christopher Hitchens proves "brilliance is not hereditary" when he verbally thrashes Ron Reagan during a debate over the implications of the London attacks and the War on Terror in general. (transcript via RadioBlogger)

ABC News is reporting one of the bodies found on the bus could have been the bomber. Earlier reports of a possible suicide bombing at that site seem to be unfounded.

Chrenkoff posts a Londoner's call to arms:

Some will attempt to blame Tony Blair's government for bringing this horror to our capital. The people who set these bombs expect this reaction. They saw it in Madrid, and they crave it in London.

They must get the reverse. Under Blair's leadership Britain has taken its place in a war against Islamofascism, against the bombers of New York, Bali and Beslan, against those who believe that their love of death is stronger than our love of life. We saw that love clearly displayed last Saturday at 'Live 8' in one of this city's great parks - striking proof of this young, diverse nation's desire to engage with and assist the wider world.

We are right to be in this war, and right to work with progressive forces in the Islamic world who want a life free from tyranny, totalitarianism and the cult of death - such as the millions who voted in Iraq, such as the millions who today yearn for freedom in Iran. Together with our Moslem allies we must redouble our efforts - and, yes, our troop deployments - so that we can isolate and destroy Bin Ladenism wherever it chooses to make a stand, and send the clerical fascists back to the dark ages.

But many people will blame Tony Blair. Some of them have spent years saying that there is no real terror threat anyway, that the war is something worthy of inverted commas, something got up by the American right for its own dark purposes. Let yesterday prove that they were wrong. Let yesterday prove that 60 years after defeating another brand of this same poison, Londoners and Britons of all faiths and backgrounds can still see clearly who their enemies are, and refuse to bow the knee.

Chrenkoff also links to Britain's left-leaning Guardian's disappointing editorials:

Update 5: Alenda Lux notes the full spectrum of responses to the bombings on the opinion pages of "Guardian": calls for understanding and tolerance, blaming America, and unconditional surrender to the terrorists (parts one, two and three).

What was it that Karl Rove said? Oh, never mind.

Also very important: the surveillance "spycams" in London's subways proved worthless in preventing the attacks. Hint to the "high-tech-surveillance-can-win-the-GWOT" crowd: spy satellites are no different. We need robust human intelligence capabilities to prevent attacks, period.

Londoners are seen on the city's vast amalgam of surveillance cameras an average of 300 times a day. Which means that the terrorists behind yesterday's bombings almost certainly knew they'd be caught on tape -- and went ahead with their attacks anyway. . . . As the AP, among many others, have noted, "the British capital's ubiquitous closed-circuit TV cameras may hold the key to determine who was behind Thursday's series of terrorist strikes." But as a preventive measure, the 7/7 attacks have shown the spycams to be flimsy, at best.