London Explosions - Suicide Bombers?

As the Subway & bus system have been suspended for at least today, many people are actually walking home, provided (I assume) they live in the nearby areas. London is a large metropolitan, and for some who work in the city itself, they travel a considerable distance to work (and back) so I am just wondering how they are going to make their way home. Perhaps by the end of the day, some services may be resumed. Police are arranging special buses for school children.

As I averred earlier, initially when the first explosion occurred, many thought it was just probably a power cut. Those affected in adjoining coaches were told to leave the train and walk towards the nearest station. It was only then that they saw the twisted wreck of the coach that received the maximum effect.

Following the first explosion, where almost everyone was still wondering what the hell was going on, other explosions occurred on other trains. By the 4th explosion, British Rail authorities were by then alerted to the coordinated attacks, and quickly shut down all lines in the city.

Shortly after that, the bus explosion occurred, ripping the double decker bus open like a sardine can. The likely cause was probably a suicide-bomber. I think the death toll on this one would be terrible.

But what about the train coaches? Were they too taken out by suicide bombers, or by timed explosive devices?

Londoners have had years of experience with such bomb attacks from the IRA, though never with simultaneous multiple attacks and such coordination. Their Police and Emergency Services have the knowledge and experienced to deal with the situation. And Londoners in general have survived these IRA attacks, like their forefathers during the London Blitz by the Luftwaffe in the last war. Therefore they are not completely new to such adverse happenings.

The explosions were timed to coincide with the G8 meeting rather than the 2012 Olympic hosting celebrations, because the latter wasn't a certainty (with Paris the early favourite) until just yesterday. The G8 Summit has been known for ages. Such a coordinated attack is usually the hallmark of al Qaeda. It would have taken a while to plan and prepare, therefore the G8 meeting is the more likely target, to draw world's attention, already focussed on the G8 in Britain, to the terrrorist attacks.

I dread to think what would have been the casualties had the terrorists advanced the coordinated attacks to occur during the celebrations. Think of the massive crowds rejoicing at public meeting areas, when suddenly the explosions go off amidst them.

LATEST:
Police has identified the bombed bus as No 30 from Hackney to Marble Arch. If my memory doesn't fail me (it's a bit hazy about London), Marble Arch is just at the beginning of, or very near Edgeware Road.