071405london

London Public Transportation Explosions (7/7/05) : London Public Transportation Explosions (7/7/05) *Update as of 7/14/05 William Alfano Western Europe Regional Coordinator The contents of this (U) presentation in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). The presentation was compiled from various open sources and (U) embassy reporting.


Overview : Overview Four alleged suicide bombers detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) between 8:51 a.m. and 9:47 a.m. (local time) 3 IEDs detonated on 3 trains within seconds of each other and 1 IED detonated on red double-decker bus approx. 1 hour later Reports to date have confirmed over 53 fatalities and approx. 700 injuries Prime Minister Tony Blair stated the attacks were meant to disrupt the G-8 Summit The attacks bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida-inspired modus operandi – but there is no confirmation of international terrorism There was no credible intelligence prior to the attacks


Location of Attacks : Location of Attacks Circle Line train between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street Underground tube stations Circle Line train close to the Edgware Road station Piccadilly Line train between King's Cross and Russell Square stations Bus # 30 (Marble Arch to Hackney) at Tavistock Square between Euston and Russell Square stations


Aldgate East Circle Line Attack : Aldgate East Circle Line Attack 8:50 a.m. – An alleged suicide bomber detonated an IED on the 3rd carriage of a Circle line Underground train between the Aldgate East and Liverpool Street stations in the city’s financial district 7 confirmed fatalities Press reports indicate 100 people wounded in the explosion


King’s Cross Station Attack : King’s Cross Station Attack 8:50 a.m. - An alleged suicide bomber detonated an IED on a Piccadilly Line tube train between the King’s Cross and Russell Underground stations 12:15 p.m. - Local officials reported that victims were still trapped at King's Cross station – the most difficult recovery site 26 confirmed fatalities


Slide7 : King’s Cross / Russell Square


Slide8 : Source: BBC News


Edgware Road Station Attack : Edgware Road Station Attack 8:50 a.m. - An alleged suicide bomber detonated an IED on the 2nd carriage of a Circle line Underground train 200 m from the Edgware Road station The train was heading toward Paddington station (a transfer point to Heathrow Airport) The explosion blew through a wall affecting 2 trains passing by the attack site 7 confirmed fatalities


Tavistock Square Bus Attack : Tavistock Square Bus Attack 9:47 a.m. – An alleged suicide bomber detonated an IED on the #30 double-decker bus at the junction of Upper Woburn Square and Tavistock Place The IED detonated in the back of the top deck of the bus, blowing off the roof The bomber boarded the bus at Euston station at 9:30 a.m. and detonated the IED when it was diverted south away from King’s Cross station Approx. 80 people were on the bus; 13 confirmed fatalities


Tavistock Square Bus Attack : Tavistock Square Bus Attack Source: BBC News


Fatalities and Injuries(as of 7/14/2005) : Fatalities and Injuries (as of 7/14/2005) Press reports have confirmed 53 fatalities Over 700 wounded; 350 treated at London hospitals and emergency response centers; 53 remain in the hospital and 8 in critical condition Numbers expected to increase as victim recovery continues at King’s Cross station No American Citizen fatalities reported – 1 American Citizen missing


Modus Operandi : Modus Operandi Pre-operational surveillance conducted to study the rush hour trains in central London (trains consisted of 700-900 passengers) 4 alleged suicide bombers, carrying backpacks, arrived at King’s Cross station at approx. 8:30 a.m by a Thameslink train from Luton 3 suspected suicide bombers boarded 3 separate trains and detonated IEDs at approx. 8:50 a.m. 1 suspected suicide bomber boarded the number 30 bus and detonated at approx. 9:47 a.m. Approx. 10 lbs. of high-grade explosives were used in each attack Bus Bomber at Luton Station at 7:20 a.m.


Possible Motivations : Possible Motivations Coordinated attacks to disrupt the G-8 Summit Attack and disrupt traffic into the Financial District of central London, a symbolic economic target Target the second-largest Coalition Force supporter in Iraq


Investigation Developments : Investigation Developments Police officials have claimed the operation involved 4 alleged suicide bombings 3 bodies and personal property were recovered near the detonations at the Tavistock, Edgeware, and Aldgate sites Press reports indicate timing devices found at some sites Officials suspect the 4th bomber’s body is among the un-recovered remains at the King’s Cross site 2,000 hotline phone calls; 115,000 calls to police 2,500 CCTV videos analyzed BBC News states CCTV footage shows 4 alleged suicide bombers arriving at King’s Cross station at 8:30 a.m.by a Thameslink train from Luton


Investigation Developments : Investigation Developments Leeds (approx. 185 miles north of London) Personal property of 3 alleged bombers led police to execute 6 warrants on 7/12 at 6 different premises in Leeds 600 people evacuated from houses, businesses and the Leeds Grand Mosque Six houses searched, 1 controlled explosion, 1 arrest (a relative of 1 of the 4 suspects), a significant amount of explosives discovered at 1 house (possible bomb factory) Luton (30 miles north of London) Police shut down a rail station, found explosives in a vehicle and conducted 9 controlled explosions


Investigation Developments : Investigation Developments On the evening of 7/13, police raided the home of the 4th bomber in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire On 7/13, press reports indicate police are searching for Egyptian Magdi al-Nashar, 33, as the possible bomb-maker for the plot (he was suspected of departing to Egypt prior to the bombings) Press reports indicate police have identified the mastermind of the plot as a British-born man of Pakistani origin


Initial Suspect Profiles : Initial Suspect Profiles 3 of the 4 alleged bombers have been identified as British men of Pakistani origin: Shehzad Tanweer, 22, of Leeds, Mohammed Sadique Khan, 30, of Dewsbury, and Hasib Hussain, 18, of Leeds A fourth bomber was identified on 7/14 as Lindsey Germail, 30, a Jamaican-born Briton who lived in Buckinghamshire 3 alleged bombers identified as middle-class citizens No overt indications of Islamic extremist activity Shehzad Tanweer “Aldgate Bomber” Source: The Sun Hasib Hussain “Tavistock Bomber”


Claim of Responsibility : Claim of Responsibility On July 7, 2005, a previously unknown group, "The Secret Organization Group of Al-Qa'ida of Jihad Organization in Europe” [Jama'at al-Tanzim al-Sirri, Tanzim Qa'idat al-Jihad fi Urupa], posted a statement claiming responsibility for the attack on the jihadist website, Al-Qal'ah The statement referred to the U.K.’s military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan The statement also warned Italy and Denmark to withdraw their troops The credibility of this statement has not been confirmed


Claim of Responsibility : Claim of Responsibility The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades claimed responsibility for the attacks via internet on 7/9 The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have issued several threats and claims of responsibility for attacks on Internet websites over the past two years, including the 3/11 attacks in Madrid, Spain The group has no known operational capabilities The credibility of this statement has not been confirmed, however, all statements are taken seriously due to possible incitement among other extremists


Transportation System Update : Transportation System Update With services likely to remain disrupted, passengers should allow considerable extra time for their journeys and continue checking travel information, as the status of services will continue to change Transport for London (TfL) provides real-time information on public transportation TfL customer information line: +44 020 7222 1234 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/realtime


Initial British Government Response : Initial British Government Response Security increased at all major transportation hubs around the country: ports, airports, rail and bus stations, ferries and tunnels London Emergency Plan implemented by police and emergency services Recalled 250 police assets from G-8 Summit to assist Advised against travel to or around London


Initial U.S. Embassy London Response : Initial U.S. Embassy London Response Warden Message http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_web/acs/warden_message_July2005.htm Bureau of Consular Affairs Public Announcement http://www.ds-osac.org/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=32040 The U.S. Embassy re-opened for normal operations on July 8, 2005 For inquiries about the welfare and whereabouts of American citizens who may have been in the vicinity of the explosions, please contact the Department of State 24-hour call center number at 001-888-407-4747.


European and U.S. Responses : European and U.S. Responses Many countries, including Italy, U.S., France, Spain, and Belgium, increased mass transit security levels and security at shopping centers, diplomatic missions, and other locales, as precautionary measures. Italy: alert raised to MAXIMUM U.S: mass transit level raised to Code ORANGE France: increased level from ORANGE to RED Belgium: additional security at EU and NATO HQs


Emergency Telephone Numbers : Emergency Telephone Numbers Bureau of Consular Affairs Call Center: 1-888-407-4747 U.S. Embassy in London: +44(020) 7499-9000 OSAC, 24/7: 202-309-5056 London Metropolitan Police Service: continues to respond to “999” emergency calls but cautions that non-emergency calls will have a seriously delayed response. London’s Casualty Bureau: +44 0870 1566344 The Metropolitan Police Service Anti-Terrorism Hotline: +44 0800 789 321


Internet Resources : Internet Resources U.S. Embassy London: http://london.usembassy.gov OSAC: http://ds-osac.org Metropolitan Police Service: http://www.met.police.uk London Underground: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/ National Rail Service: http://www.nrekb.com/london_underground.html


Slide29 : Contact Information Billy Alfano Western Europe Regional Coordinator 571-345-2235 Alfanowl@state.gov