# What the Hell?! They're Bombing London! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2005, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437 "2005-07-07T09:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/61 "2005-07-07T14:32:12Z")
Good lord. What a thing to wake up to. I’ve been to London twice. England is the home of my ancestors. I am saddened by the news of the bombings, and I wish the best for Londoners and England. If I could jump onto an airplane and do anything to help, I would. All I can do is send my sympathy and feelings of solidarity. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/62 "2005-07-07T14:32:24Z")
33 confirmed deaths, scores injured [BBC Link](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4661059.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/63 "2005-07-07T14:36:36Z")
Shouldn’t **Mangetout** be checking in? Not sure of his _exact_ location but I think he’s in the vacinity… ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/64 "2005-07-07T14:47:21Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#): > > After 9/11, the US invoked the NATO treaty’s mutual self-defense provision (Article V, I think). This provision obligates all member states to treat an attack on one as an attack on all – with the implication that everybody is to respond to the attacker with their full military might. If we were being invaded by the Warsaw Pact, I’m certain we would. Not sure I see the usefulness in the current situation. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/65 "2005-07-07T15:19:55Z")
Holy crap, this is f\*cked up. My prayers are with Londoners, and I’m hoping this can be contained, and won’t hit other cities as rush hours approach. Happy ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/66 "2005-07-07T15:24:22Z")
What the heck! I come back to England and all hell’s breaking loose! I just came from Heathrow yesterday. If I was one day late and the new house was ready I could have been on one of those tubes. Damn! My thoughts are with all the Londoners and especially the casualties. By the way, for the people I know I’m still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/67 "2005-07-07T15:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > 33 confirmed deaths. . . Here’s hoping this is the final figure. Given that there were four bombs, three in what must have been crowded tube trains I’m amazed there aren’t a lot more. BTW I’m not seeing the same level of shock we had on 9/11. Maybe because we’ve been expecting an attack like this, especially after Madrid. What does it say about AQ that they have to go for such soft targets? Maybe it means they’re weak and not capable of another 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/68 "2005-07-07T15:33:22Z")
Just out of curiousity…where are the Royals while all this is going on? Is Buckingham Palace in lockdown? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/69 "2005-07-07T15:33:58Z")
_huge hugs to every LonDoper out there_ God, this is messed up… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/70 "2005-07-07T15:34:53Z")
I’m feeling very scared right now. Fear of the unknown, I guess. How many dead? How was the attack carried off? What will the repurcussions be for all of us? From what I hear (streaming NPR), Londoners are acting with admirable calm. Sorry, I’m just rambling. NOBODY at our office is talking about it (to me, anyway), just treating it like another day, I have to get this off my chest. Thank God I can find people here who care. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/71 "2005-07-07T15:40:56Z")
Just when the world seems to be starting to heal from recent atrocities this happens…Just horrible. I hope everyone’s gonna be ok over there. I’ll send my prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/72 "2005-07-07T15:48:39Z")
Latest from the Telegraph: > [@](#): > > Seven people were killed in the first explosion between Moorgate and Liverpool Street station. It is not clear if the bomb, which exploded about 100 yards into the tunnel, was on the Central or Circle line. The worst incident happened at Russell Square where 21 people died. A further five people died at Edgware Road where three trains were involved including a derailment. It is not clear how many people were killed in the bus attack at Tavistock Place. ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/73 "2005-07-07T15:51:01Z")
Just made it home - the office was closed for Health and Safety, but they had reopened some of the main overground stations, so we walked. Walking back through Central London was eerie - there weren’t any cars or busses running when we started out, and although there were a lot of people on the street, it was very quiet. No one was running or talking, just a few muttering into cellphones. Its the only time I’ve seen central london with no cars. Its the side streets with fewer people which were strange - no one hurrying, keeping a steady pace but everyone just glancing round at the buildings. You could see total strangers doing exactly the same thing. My fiancee got back and said Elephant and Castle was heaving, but like Central London it is very very calm. It feels like a large firedrill, rather than an emergency. Buses are running normally from zone2 outwards, the tube’s a write off, and trains are erratic. The BBC website should have transport details. I hope everyone else makes it back OK. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/74 "2005-07-07T16:02:36Z")
> [@tirial](#): > > Walking back through Central London was eerie - there weren’t any cars or busses running when we started out, and although there were a lot of people on the street, it was very quiet. No one was running or talking, just a few muttering into cellphones. Its the only time I’ve seen central london with no cars. Its the side streets with fewer people which were strange - no one hurrying, keeping a steady pace but everyone just glancing round at the buildings. You could see total strangers doing exactly the same thing. Golly, _that_ gives me déjà vu . . . glad you’re OK! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/75 "2005-07-07T16:28:45Z")
When I was in Copenhagen in 1982, I met a girl from Yorkshire. We exchanged letters for a few years, and then we fell out of contact. I found her on the web a year or so ago, and contacted her again. We’ve exchanged a handful of e-mails, but we’re not in regular contact. Since she’s in Yorkshire, I’m sure she’s in no danger. I sent an e-mail letting her know that my thoughts are with England. I got an out-of-office reply. I’m not really worried, since (from what little I know about her present life) I don’t think she’d be in London. But I’d rather have received a reply from her. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/76 "2005-07-07T16:33:04Z")
My best wishes, thoughts and prayers to all Londoners. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/77 "2005-07-07T16:33:44Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Golly, _that_ gives me déjà vu . . . glad you’re OK! Yeah, me too. Hang in there LonDopers. And take it from me. Don’t watch the news for 24 hours straight. It doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/78 "2005-07-07T16:41:13Z")
I’d like to have the news back to the way it was yesterday, please. Listening to the “Where’s Natalie” and " This suspect is going free now." babble. Have we heard from **glee** and **Francesca**? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/79 "2005-07-07T16:44:44Z")
> [@tirial](#): > > Walking back through Central London was eerie - there weren’t any cars or busses running when we started out, and although there were a lot of people on the street, it was very quiet. No one was running or talking, just a few muttering into cellphones. Its the only time I’ve seen central london with no cars. Have they done anything regarding air traffic, like cancelling flights to and from certain destinations or closed any of the airports? Sincere condolences to all our U.K. friends. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437/80 "2005-07-07T16:50:53Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Have we heard from **glee** and **Francesca**? Man, I haven’t thought of **Francesca** in a while. IIRC, she was a dispatcher for an ambulance service? I hope she’s okay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-theyre-bombing-london/311437.md?page=5)