London under Attack - the Morning After

I went to bed very late this morning (Sydney time) after hanging out for more developments but I reckon the recovery process by the British Emergency Services would take some long and careful time.

This morning CNN reported the death toll as officially at 37, but the TV news presenter also mentioned that more bodies are yet to be recovered from the wreckage near King’s Cross Station. BBC World has it at 38, comprising 35 on the tube, 2 on the bus and one later in hospital.

Different TV stations have been presenting different figures, with the BBC the most conservative (perhaps in line with its new policy of ‘letting the news gestate for a while’ before presenting it?), and Sky News the most expansive. The TV presenter referred to the latter as mentioning a figure of 75 dead.

The casualties have different figures, depending on which has been the source - Royal Hospital, Police, TV stations? But what is known is that 7 Aussies have been injured. Malaysian PM has stated that no Malaysian has been injured. Thank goodness!

The initial confusion was understandable. Even London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner mentioned ‘about’ six explosions, at Edgware Road, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East and Moorgate. As mentioned in last night’s posts, the explosions did not necessarily occur at a station but in between stations, which resulted in ‘double’ reporting of occurrences.

I am a little surprised but extremely grateful that the bus toll has been less than what I had feared – in large part influenced by thoughts of Israeli experiences of such bus attacks by suicide-bombers, where the number of deaths had been horrific. However, we need to remember that some of the seriously injured may possibly succumb to their mortal wounds. The earlier mention by news reporters that there could be 3 bus explosions has not been correct.

The majority of the deaths seemed to be at the King’s Cross – Russell Square part of the tube (21), rather than Aldgate Station, as was initially reported. The Liverpool Street – Aldgate East section and Edgware Station each had 7 commuters killed.

The TV this morning mentioned that some bodies are yet to be recovered from the tube, so we need to wait and hope for the best. So the news flash by Sky News may yet prove, most sadly, to be eventually correct.