>>19139024
Timeline of the 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
21 July 2005 London bombings
Jean Charles de Menezes
Reactions to the 2005 London bombings
21 July 2005 London bombings trial
7 July bombers
Mohammad Sidique Khan · Shehzad Tanweer
Germaine Lindsay · Hasib Hussain
21 July bombers
Yasin Hassan Omar · Osman Hussain
Muktar Said Ibrahim · Ramzi Mohammed
Hamdi Adus Isaac
Locations
London Underground
Aldgate · Tavistock Square · King's Cross
Liverpool Street · Oval · Russell Square
Shepherd's Bush · Warren Street
Similar events
Aldwych bus bombing
1999 London nail bombings
See also
7 July Memorial
List of Islamist terrorist attacks
List of attacks on the London Underground
vte
London Underground
Further information: Timeline of the 2005 London bombings
See also: Attacks on the London Underground
At 8:49 a.m. on Thursday 7 July 2005, three bombs were detonated on London Underground trains within 50 seconds of each other:
The first bomb exploded on a six-car London Underground Circle line train, number 204, travelling eastbound between Liverpool Street and Aldgate. At the time of the explosion, the train's third car was approximately 100 yards (90 m) along the tunnel from Liverpool Street. The parallel track of the Hammersmith & City line between Liverpool Street and Aldgate East was also damaged in the blast.
The second bomb exploded in the second car of another six-car London Underground Circle line train, number 216, which had just left Edgware Road and was travelling westbound towards Paddington. An eastbound Circle line train that was passing next to the bombed train was also damaged,[2] as was a wall that later collapsed.
A third bomb was detonated on a six-car London Underground Piccadilly line train, number 311, travelling southbound from King's Cross St Pancras to Russell Square. The device exploded approximately one minute after the service departed King's Cross, by which time it had travelled about 500 yards (450 m). The explosion occurred at the rear of the first car of the train, causing severe damage to the rear of that car as well as the front of the second one.[3] The surrounding tunnel also sustained damage.
It was originally thought that there had been six, rather than three, explosions on the Underground network. The bus bombing brought the reported total to seven; this was clarified later in the day. The incorrect reports were later attributed to the fact that the blasts occurred on trains that were between stations, causing wounded passengers to emerge from both stations, giving the impression that there was an incident at each. Police also revised the timings of the tube blasts: initial reports had indicated that they occurred during a period of almost half an hour. This was due to initial confusion at London Underground (LU), where the explosions were originally believed to have been caused by power surges. An early report, made in the minutes after the explosions, involved a person under a train, while another described a derailment (both of which did occur, but only as a result of the explosions). A code amber alert was declared by LU at 9:19 a.m., and LU began to close operations by ordering trains to continue to the next station and, once there, suspending services.[4]
Passengers awaiting evacuation from a bombed train between King's Cross and Russell Square
The effects of the explosions varied due to the differing characteristics of the tunnels in which each occurred:[5]
The Circle line is a "cut and cover" sub-surface tunnel, about 7 m (23 ft) deep. As the tunnel contains two parallel tracks, it is relatively wide. The two explosions on the Circle line were probably able to vent their force into the tunnel, reducing their destructive force.
The Piccadilly line is a deep-level tunnel, up to 30 m (100 ft) below the surface and with narrow (3.56 m, or 11 ft 8+1⁄4 in) single-track tubes and just 15 cm (6 in) clearances. This confined space reflected the blast force, concentrating its effect.