London Public Transportation Explosions 7705

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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.

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Overview

• Four alleged suicide bombers detonated improvised
  explosive devices (IEDs) between 851 a.m. and
  947 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

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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

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Aldgate East Circle Line Attack

• 850 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 citys financial
  district
• 7 confirmed fatalities
• Press reports indicate 100 people wounded in the
  explosion

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Kings Cross Station Attack

• 850 a.m. - An alleged suicide bomber detonated
  an IED on a Piccadilly Line tube train between
  the Kings Cross and Russell Underground stations
• 1215 p.m. - Local officials reported that
  victims were still trapped at King's Cross
  station the most difficult recovery site
• 26 confirmed fatalities

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Kings Cross / Russell Square
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Source BBC News
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Edgware Road Station Attack

• 850 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

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Tavistock Square Bus Attack

• 947 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
  930 a.m. and detonated the IED when it was
  diverted south away from Kings Cross station
• Approx. 80 people were on the bus 13 confirmed
  fatalities

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Tavistock Square Bus Attack
Source BBC News
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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 Kings Cross station
• No American Citizen fatalities reported 1
  American Citizen missing

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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 Kings Cross station at approx. 830
  a.m by a Thameslink train from Luton
• 3 suspected suicide bombers boarded 3 separate
  trains and detonated IEDs at approx. 850 a.m.
• 1 suspected suicide bomber boarded the number 30
  bus and detonated at approx. 947 a.m.
• Approx. 10 lbs. of high-grade explosives were
  used in each attack

Bus Bomber at Luton Station at 720 a.m.
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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

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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 bombers body is among
  the un-recovered remains at the Kings 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 Kings Cross station
  at 830 a.m.by a Thameslink train from Luton

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Initial U.S. Embassy London Response

• Warden Message
• http//london.usembassy.gov/cons_web/acs/warden_me
  ssage_July2005.htm
• Bureau of Consular Affairs Public Announcement
• http//www.ds-osac.org/Reports/report.cfm?contentI
  D32040
• 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.

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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

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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.
• Londons Casualty Bureau 44 0870 1566344
• The Metropolitan Police Service Anti-Terrorism
  Hotline [phone]

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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

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Contact Information
Billy Alfano Western Europe Regional
Coordinator 571-345-2235 Alfanowl_at_state.gov