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{{Short description|Averted terrorist attack}} | |||
{{current|date=June 2007}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} | |||
] | |||
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}} | |||
On ] ], an unexploded ] was discovered near the Tiger Tiger ] in ], ], ]. The device was removed and detonated in a controlled explosion. These events took place two days after ] ] and ] ] took office, a week before the second anniversary of ] and a day before a ] was to take place along the same street. Several reports were made to the ], including one from an ] that saw what looked like smoke in the car some time after 01:25 a.m. (]) after being called to the area for an emergency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272962,00.html | title=Bomb Attempt: Police Briefing |date=]| work =]}}</ref> The car was a light green metallic coloured ] and there were reports of two large gas canisters (around 200 litres<ref name="Reuter India"> {{cite news | url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-06-29T160332Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-282374-6.xml | title=Police find bomb in London, launch terrorism probe |date=]|wprl=] India }}</ref>) and a large number of nails at 04:00 a.m. (UTC+1).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm | title=London 'bomb' made safe by police |date=]| work =]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html | title=Car bomb scare in London|date=]| work =]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,70131-1272919,00.html | title=Sky News Pictures - London bomb scare|date=]| work =]}}</ref> A meeting of ] was held in central London about the incident. <ref></ref> | |||
{{Infobox civilian attack | |||
| title = 2007 London car bombs | |||
| partof = ] | |||
| image = Haymarket car bomb.jpg | |||
| caption = The Mercedes-Benz on Haymarket covered by a tent | |||
| location = ], ] | |||
| target = ] and ] | |||
| date = {{start date and age|2007|6|29|df=yes}} | |||
| type = Attempted ]ing, attempted ] | |||
| weapon = ] | |||
| fatalities = 0 | |||
| injuries = 0 | |||
| perps = ] and ] | |||
}} | |||
On 29 June 2007, two ]s in London were discovered and disabled before they could be detonated. The first device was left near the ] ] in ] at around 01:30, and the second was left in Cockspur Street, located in close proximity to the nightclub. | |||
==Event== | |||
The first car bomb was reported to the ] by the door staff of Tiger Tiger.<ref name="Sky000" /> About an hour later, the second car bomb was ticketed for illegal parking, and an hour after that, transported to the car pound at ],<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm |title=Two car bombs found in West End |date=29 June 2007 |work=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715185818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm |archive-date=15 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> where staff noticed a strong smell of petrol and reported the vehicle to police when they heard about the first device.<ref name=Telegraph1>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555963/Second-car-bomb-found-in-Londons-West-End.html|title=Second car bomb found in London's West End|last1=Gardham|first1=Duncan|last2=Peck|first2=Sally|date=29 June 2007|work=]|access-date=29 June 2007|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> | |||
The event coincided with the appointment of ] as ] two days earlier, but ] dismissed suggestions of a connection.<ref>{{cite news|title = Airport attack nothing to do with Brown's Scottish roots, says No 10|work = ]|date = 3 July 2007|access-date = 6 July 2007|url = http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1033262007|location=Edinburgh|first1=James|last1=Kirkup|first2=Hamish|last2=Macdonnell}}</ref> ] was quickly established to the ] the following day. ], arrested following the ] attack, was later found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to both incidents and sentenced to ], with a minimum of 32 years in prison. | |||
==Discovery of car bombs== | |||
] | |||
] in Haymarket.]] | |||
A bomb was reported to the ] by the door staff of the ] ] in ]. At the time, an ] was attending to a minor incident at the nightclub when they noticed suspicious fumes coming from a vehicle.<ref name="Sky000">{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272962,00.html |title=Bomb Attempt: Police Briefing |date=29 June 2007 |publisher=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701212523/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C70131-1272962%2C00.html |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> The vehicle was reported to have contained 60 litres of ], ]s, and ]s.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6253802.stm |work=BBC News| title=Q&A: UK terror investigation | date=1 July 2007| access-date= 30 June 2007 }}</ref> ] reported that while the gas contained in the canisters and the quantity of the canisters remains unknown, further details would be given after they have been analysed by ] experts. The head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command said, "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life."<ref name=BBC /> | |||
According to '']'', the gas cylinders contained ], used for ]s.<ref name=Skynews-1>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html |title=Two Bombs Were Set To Blow in London |date=29 June 2007 |publisher=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701035321/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C70131-1272910%2C00.html |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
] | |||
A second car bomb was believed to have been left in the same area at around the same time. The vehicle received a parking ticket in Cockspur Street at 02:30. At about 03:30, it was transported to the Park Lane car pound. However, staff left the vehicle in a public area after smelling petrol fumes, and they then alerted police upon hearing about the discovery of the bomb at Tiger Tiger.<ref name=Telegraph1 /><ref name=BBC-A>{{cite news | |||
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255452.stm | |||
|title=Police hunt for London car bomber | |||
|date=29 June 2007 | |||
|work=BBC News|access-date=29 June 2007 | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701194038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255452.stm | |||
|archive-date=1 July 2007 | |||
|url-status=live | |||
|df=dmy | |||
}}</ref> | |||
Both vehicles were made by ]. The first was a light-green metallic ] ], registration number G824 VFK. The second was a blue ].<ref name=BBC2/> The cars and their devices were recovered intact for forensic examination and both were found to contain petrol cans, gas canisters and a quantity of nails, with a mobile phone-based trigger.{{cn|date=July 2020}} | |||
==Suspects== | |||
{{main|Bilal Abdullah|Kafeel Ahmed}} | |||
Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed were identified as the main suspects behind the London car bombs and the subsequent Glasgow attack. Abdullah was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions,<ref name="British police charge Iraqi doctor over failed car bombings">{{cite news|title=British police charge Iraqi doctor over failed car bombings |work=] |date=7 July 2007 |access-date=7 July 2007 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200707070301.htm |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200950/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200707070301.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> while Ahmed was hospitalised at the ] in critical condition, after he suffered severe ]s to 90% of his body. He was not expected to survive—he had already been ] twice as of 4 July.<ref name="Ringleader 'Al-Qaeda sleeper'">{{cite news|title = Ringleader 'Al-Qaeda sleeper'|publisher = CourierMail.com.au|date = 4 July 2007|access-date = 4 July 2007|url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22020874-952,00.html | first=Paul | last=Kent}}</ref> A ] left behind indicates that they intended to die in the attack.<ref name="Glasgow suspects left suicide note">{{cite news|title = Glasgow suspects left suicide note|work = The Australian|date = 6 July 2007|access-date = 6 July 2007|url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22026060-601,00.html}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | |||
On 2 August 2007, ] reported that Ahmed had died in the ].<ref name="Glasgow Airport attack man dies">{{cite news|title = Glasgow Airport attack man dies|work = ]|date = 2007-08-02|access-date = 2007-08-02|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6928854.stm}}</ref> His last rituals were held in the UK. On 17 December 2009, Abdullah was convicted at ] of conspiracy to murder for the incidents in both London and Glasgow, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a requirement that he spend at least 32 years in jail.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7786884.stm |work=BBC News |title=Bomb plot doctor jailed for life |date=17 December 2008|access-date=9 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230224607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7786884.stm|archive-date=30 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Investigations were being carried out to unearth Abdullah and Ahmed's possible involvement with the deadly ], an attack by unknown suspects still at large.<ref name="ibnlive">{{cite news|title=Bangalore terror link puts IISc attack under scanner|publisher=ibnlive.com|date=10 July 2007|access-date=10 July 2007|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bangalore-terror-link-puts-iisc-attack-under-scanner/44429-3.html|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213322/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bangalore-terror-link-puts-iisc-attack-under-scanner/44429-3.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==Timeline== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Local time (]+1)!!Event | |||
! Chain of Events | |||
|- | |- | ||
! colspan=3 style="text-align:center" | 29 June 2007 | |||
| '''01:25 am''' | |||
| ] crew reported that they saw what looked like smoke in the car. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''' |
| '''01:25''' | ||
| ] crew report seeing smoke in a car parked in ]. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen the car being driven "erratically" and then crashing into bins, after which the driver got out and ran off.<ref name=BBC/> | |||
| ] investigate the vehicle and cordon off the area. Explosives officers examine the vehicle and disable potential explosive device. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''' |
| '''02:00''' | ||
| ] investigate the vehicle and cordon off the area.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm |title=Police avert car bomb "carnage" |date=29 June 2007 |work=BBC News|access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706152731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm |archive-date=6 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| '''02:30''' | |||
| A second car is found illegally parked in Cockspur Street, near ].<ref name=BBC2>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6256386.stm |title=London car bombs timeline |date=30 June 2007 |work=BBC News|access-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706131623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6256386.stm |archive-date=6 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| '''03:30''' | |||
| The second car is taken to a car pound in Park Lane. Police manually disable a device in the first car.<ref name=BBC2/> | |||
|- | |||
| '''04:00''' | |||
| A witness sees the police removing gas canisters from the car. | | A witness sees the police removing gas canisters from the car. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''08:00 |
| '''08:00''' | ||
| ] is closed. | | ] is closed. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''10:25 |
| '''10:25''' | ||
| The car is taken from Haymarket and sent to the ] research site at ] in Kent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk//kent-news/Fort-Halstead-probes-car-in-London-security-scare-newsinkent4217.aspx |title=Fort Halstead probes car in London security scare |date=29 June 2007 |work=Kent News |access-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702112906/http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Fort-Halstead-probes-car-in-London-security-scare-newsinkent4217.aspx |archive-date=2 July 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
| The car removed from the ]. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| '''10:30 |
| '''10:30''' | ||
| |
| The ] committee meets to discuss the issue. Piccadilly Circus Underground station is reopened. | ||
|- | |||
| '''14:30''' | |||
|] is closed off after a second suspect vehicle is discovered in an underground car park.<ref name=parklane>{{cite news|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070629/tuk-britain-attacks-alert-a7ad41d.html |title=Central London street sealed off amid new alert |date=29 June 2007 |work=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701201621/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070629/tuk-britain-attacks-alert-a7ad41d.html |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| '''15:45''' | |||
|A police bomb investigation robot is seen near the entrance to the car park.<ref name=parklane /> | |||
|- | |||
| '''17:00''' | |||
|Police cordon off ] after finding a third suspicious vehicle. | |||
|- | |||
|'''18:00''' | |||
|Fleet Street re-opens after nothing is found in the vehicle. | |||
|- | |||
|'''19:00''' | |||
|Police confirm that a second device has been located at the Park Lane site.<ref name=Telegraph1 /> | |||
|- | |||
| '''20:45''' | |||
|Police confirm that both vehicles were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders.<ref name=BBC2/> | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Aftermath== | |||
An eyewitness claims to have seen the car shortly before '''02:00 a.m.''' (UTC+1), being driven "erratically" and then crashing into bins, after which, the driver got out and ran off. The car has been removed and taken to a forensics lab in Kent, for further inspection<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2114743,00.html | title=Suspect Device found in Central London |date=]| work =]}}</ref>. Police officers carried out a controlled explosion on what the police described as a "potentially viable explosive device".<ref name=BBC>BBC News retrieved ] ]</ref> ] was closed in response to the attempted attack. | |||
{{further|2007 UK terrorist incidents|Glasgow Airport attack}} | |||
A spokesperson for ] stated that the route of their ] march, set for 30 June 2007, would be unchanged although extra precautions such as removing bins would be implemented.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pridelondon.org/ |title=Car bomb found in London |date=29 June 2007 |work=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621175455/http://www.pridelondon.org/ |archive-date=21 June 2007 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy }}</ref> The police do not think the attacks were targeted at the event. Other suspicious vehicles in ] and ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2919779720070629 |author=Peter Graff and Mark Trevelyan |title=Police find two car bombs in central London |date=29 June 2007 |agency=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701133104/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2919779720070629 |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> were investigated by police, as well as reports of suspicious cars in other areas of the UK, such as ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6253720.stm | title=Police lift town exclusion zone |date=29 June 2007| work =]| access-date= 29 June 2007 }}</ref> which suffered a ] by the ]. | |||
Office workers, students and tourists were still enjoying a Friday night out in London only hours after the discovery of the bombs. Bars and clubs remained open and ] ] urged the capital's communities to work together to defeat the terrorism threat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/terrorism/story/0,,2115283,00.html |location=London |work=The Guardian |first1=Rachel |last1=Williams |first2=Helen |last2=Pidd |first3=Rupert |last3=Neate |title=Bomb alerts and travel chaos fail to deter West End revellers |date=30 June 2007 |access-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702181432/http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0%2C%2C2115283%2C00.html |archive-date=2 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
==Bomb== | |||
The vehicle has been reported to have contained sixty litres of petrol, gas cylinders and nails. ] have reported that while the gas contained in the canisters and the quantity of the canisters remains unknown, they do not wish to increase speculation and that further details will be given after they have been analysed by ] experts. They have stated that the bomb was sufficient to cause "serious injury or loss of life".<ref name=BBC /> | |||
Security at ] was increased as a result of the incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=89624 |agency=Associated Press |title=Security increased at Wimbledon due to terrorist threat |date=29 June 2007 |work=Tennis.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704024625/http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=89624 |archive-date=4 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> ] sources later stated that "international elements" were believed to be involved with the bomb.<ref name=BBC/> Police claim to have a "crystal clear" picture of the driver of the first car and suspect he may be an individual formerly detained in relation to the ] of convicted terrorist Dhiren Barot.<ref name="Barot">Brian Ross and Richard Esposito: , ABC News, 29 June 2007</ref> Barot was connected to an earlier "limousine bomb" plot, which also involved cars packed with ] gas cylinders.<ref name=BBC1/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756619.stm |work=BBC News|title=The men who made a plot possible |date=15 June 2007 |first=Dominic |last=Casciani |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812080716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756619.stm |archive-date=12 August 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
==Aftermath== | |||
A spokesperson for ] stated that the route of the pride march, set for 30 June, would be unchanged although extra precautions such as removing bins would be implemented.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pridelondon.org/ | title=Car bomb found in London |date=]| work =]}}</ref> The police do not think the attack was targeted on the event. Another suspicious vehicle in ] was investigated by police. | |||
] reported that a message appeared on the widely used ]ist ] ] at 08:09, 28 June 2007, stating: "Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed." The message went on to mention the recently announced ] of '']'' author ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/was-london-bomb-plot-heralded-on-web/ |author=Tucker Reals |title=Was London Bomb Plot Heralded on Web? |date=29 June 2007 |work=] |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701155251/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/29/terror/main2997517.shtml |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
The following day, in another incident, a ] was set on fire and driven into the main departure terminal of ] causing minor damage. Two men, believed to be of ] appearance, were arrested at the scene. One, who had been on fire, was taken to a nearby hospital and the other to a police station. ] ] announced that the attack is being treated as a terrorist attack and that the United Kingdom terrorism threat level has been elevated from "Severe" to "Critical", meaning "further attacks are expected imminently". In a press conference Glasgow police said this attack and the car bombs in London were believed to be linked.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6257194.stm |work=BBC News|title=Blazing car crashes into airport |date=30 June 2007 |access-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707165213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6257194.stm |archive-date=7 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>UK Home Office: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812135926/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/current-threat-level/ |date=12 August 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/terrorism/story/0,,2115693,00.html | location=London | work=The Guardian | first1=Jo | last1=Revill | first2=Mark | last2=Townsend | first3=Paul | last3=Kelbie | title=Terror threat 'critical' as Glasgow attacked | date=1 July 2007| access-date= 30 June 2007 }}</ref> The BBC reported that a mobile phone found after the arrest of the Glasgow suspects contained the numbers of those involved in the London bombing attempts. | |||
At approximately 21:30 on 30 June, officers of the ] and ] arrested two people at junction 16 on the northbound ] near ] in south Cheshire, blocking the motorway for about 40 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6257606.stm |work=BBC News|title=UK terror threat now 'critical' |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=1 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708103157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6257606.stm |archive-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/04/london.investigation/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=UK police find suicide note about terror plot – CNN.com |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=4 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716063946/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/04/london.investigation/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto |archive-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> | |||
On 18 December, gallantry awards for two of the Metropolitan Police explosive officers involved in defusing the devices were ]. Paul Humphrey received the ] (the third highest such medal in the ]), and Gary Anthony Wright received the ].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=58544 |supp=y |pages=18305–18306|date=18 December 2007}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | |||
{{Portal|London}} | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
{{-}} | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* | |||
{{Wikinews|Car bomb defused in central London}} | |||
* ( |
* (BBC News) | ||
* (BBC) | |||
* (BBC) | |||
* (]) | |||
* | |||
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* BBC News, Heathrow T4 Suspect package | |||
{{War on Terrorism}} | |||
{{Club fires}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 08:31, 22 December 2024
Averted terrorist attack
2007 London car bombs | |
---|---|
Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe | |
The Mercedes-Benz on Haymarket covered by a tent | |
Location | London, England |
Date | 29 June 2007; 17 years ago (2007-06-29) |
Target | Haymarket and Park Lane |
Attack type | Attempted car bombing, attempted mass murder |
Weapon | Car bomb |
Deaths | 0 |
Injured | 0 |
Perpetrators | Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed |
On 29 June 2007, two car bombs in London were discovered and disabled before they could be detonated. The first device was left near the Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket at around 01:30, and the second was left in Cockspur Street, located in close proximity to the nightclub.
The first car bomb was reported to the police by the door staff of Tiger Tiger. About an hour later, the second car bomb was ticketed for illegal parking, and an hour after that, transported to the car pound at Park Lane, where staff noticed a strong smell of petrol and reported the vehicle to police when they heard about the first device.
The event coincided with the appointment of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister two days earlier, but Downing Street dismissed suggestions of a connection. A close link was quickly established to the Glasgow Airport attack the following day. Bilal Abdullah, arrested following the Glasgow attack, was later found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to both incidents and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 32 years in prison.
Discovery of car bombs
A bomb was reported to the police by the door staff of the Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket. At the time, an ambulance crew was attending to a minor incident at the nightclub when they noticed suspicious fumes coming from a vehicle. The vehicle was reported to have contained 60 litres of petrol, gas cylinders, and nails. Scotland Yard reported that while the gas contained in the canisters and the quantity of the canisters remains unknown, further details would be given after they have been analysed by forensic experts. The head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command said, "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life."
According to Sky News, the gas cylinders contained propane, used for patio heaters.
A second car bomb was believed to have been left in the same area at around the same time. The vehicle received a parking ticket in Cockspur Street at 02:30. At about 03:30, it was transported to the Park Lane car pound. However, staff left the vehicle in a public area after smelling petrol fumes, and they then alerted police upon hearing about the discovery of the bomb at Tiger Tiger.
Both vehicles were made by Mercedes-Benz. The first was a light-green metallic Mercedes-Benz W124 saloon, registration number G824 VFK. The second was a blue Mercedes-Benz 280E. The cars and their devices were recovered intact for forensic examination and both were found to contain petrol cans, gas canisters and a quantity of nails, with a mobile phone-based trigger.
Suspects
Main articles: Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel AhmedBilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed were identified as the main suspects behind the London car bombs and the subsequent Glasgow attack. Abdullah was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions, while Ahmed was hospitalised at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in critical condition, after he suffered severe burns to 90% of his body. He was not expected to survive—he had already been revived twice as of 4 July. A suicide note left behind indicates that they intended to die in the attack.
On 2 August 2007, Strathclyde Police reported that Ahmed had died in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. His last rituals were held in the UK. On 17 December 2009, Abdullah was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder for the incidents in both London and Glasgow, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a requirement that he spend at least 32 years in jail.
Investigations were being carried out to unearth Abdullah and Ahmed's possible involvement with the deadly 2005 Indian Institute of Science shooting, an attack by unknown suspects still at large.
Timeline
Local time (GMT+1) | Event | |
---|---|---|
29 June 2007 | ||
01:25 | London Ambulance Service crew report seeing smoke in a car parked in Haymarket. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen the car being driven "erratically" and then crashing into bins, after which the driver got out and ran off. | |
02:00 | Metropolitan Police officers investigate the vehicle and cordon off the area. | |
02:30 | A second car is found illegally parked in Cockspur Street, near Trafalgar Square. | |
03:30 | The second car is taken to a car pound in Park Lane. Police manually disable a device in the first car. | |
04:00 | A witness sees the police removing gas canisters from the car. | |
08:00 | Piccadilly Circus Underground station is closed. | |
10:25 | The car is taken from Haymarket and sent to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's research site at Fort Halstead in Kent. | |
10:30 | The COBR committee meets to discuss the issue. Piccadilly Circus Underground station is reopened. | |
14:30 | Park Lane is closed off after a second suspect vehicle is discovered in an underground car park. | |
15:45 | A police bomb investigation robot is seen near the entrance to the car park. | |
17:00 | Police cordon off Fleet Street after finding a third suspicious vehicle. | |
18:00 | Fleet Street re-opens after nothing is found in the vehicle. | |
19:00 | Police confirm that a second device has been located at the Park Lane site. | |
20:45 | Police confirm that both vehicles were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders. |
Aftermath
Further information: 2007 UK terrorist incidents and Glasgow Airport attackA spokesperson for Pride London stated that the route of their gay pride march, set for 30 June 2007, would be unchanged although extra precautions such as removing bins would be implemented. The police do not think the attacks were targeted at the event. Other suspicious vehicles in Park Lane and Fleet Street were investigated by police, as well as reports of suspicious cars in other areas of the UK, such as Warrington, which suffered a 1993 bomb attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
Office workers, students and tourists were still enjoying a Friday night out in London only hours after the discovery of the bombs. Bars and clubs remained open and London mayor Ken Livingstone urged the capital's communities to work together to defeat the terrorism threat.
Security at Wimbledon was increased as a result of the incident. Whitehall sources later stated that "international elements" were believed to be involved with the bomb. Police claim to have a "crystal clear" picture of the driver of the first car and suspect he may be an individual formerly detained in relation to the case of convicted terrorist Dhiren Barot. Barot was connected to an earlier "limousine bomb" plot, which also involved cars packed with propane gas cylinders.
CBS News reported that a message appeared on the widely used jihadist Internet forum Al-Hesbah at 08:09, 28 June 2007, stating: "Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed." The message went on to mention the recently announced knighthood of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
The following day, in another incident, a Jeep Cherokee was set on fire and driven into the main departure terminal of Glasgow Airport causing minor damage. Two men, believed to be of Asian appearance, were arrested at the scene. One, who had been on fire, was taken to a nearby hospital and the other to a police station. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that the attack is being treated as a terrorist attack and that the United Kingdom terrorism threat level has been elevated from "Severe" to "Critical", meaning "further attacks are expected imminently". In a press conference Glasgow police said this attack and the car bombs in London were believed to be linked. The BBC reported that a mobile phone found after the arrest of the Glasgow suspects contained the numbers of those involved in the London bombing attempts.
At approximately 21:30 on 30 June, officers of the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police arrested two people at junction 16 on the northbound M6 motorway near Sandbach in south Cheshire, blocking the motorway for about 40 minutes.
On 18 December, gallantry awards for two of the Metropolitan Police explosive officers involved in defusing the devices were gazetted. Paul Humphrey received the Queen's Gallantry Medal (the third highest such medal in the UK honours system), and Gary Anthony Wright received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.
See also
References
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- "No. 58544". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 December 2007. pp. 18305–18306.
External links
- Washington Post Photo Gallery
- In pictures: Car bomb discovered (BBC News)
- London mayor calls for vigilance (BBC)
- Metropolitan Police press conference (video) (BBC)
- Public On Alert As Car Bombing Foiled (Sky News)
- Al-Jazeera News coverage (in English)
- London Heathrow opens after alert BBC News, Heathrow T4 Suspect package
Nightclub fires, disasters, and attacks | |
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- 2000s in the City of Westminster
- 2007 crimes in the United Kingdom
- 2007 in London
- June 2007 UK terrorist incidents
- Car and truck bombings in London
- Failed terrorist attempts in the United Kingdom
- Islamic terrorism in London
- Islamic terrorist incidents in 2007
- June 2007 crimes
- June 2007 events in the United Kingdom
- Terrorist incidents in London in the 2000s
- Terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom in 2007
- Car and truck bombings in 2007
- Attacks on nightclubs