How a passing ambulance crew prevented a London catastrophe
In short: In the early hours of June 29, 2007, a routine medical call in London led to the discovery of two massive car bombs. What began as an ambulance crew attending to a minor illness ended with the defusing of devices packed with nails and fuel.
The discovery occurred near the busy Piccadilly Circus area, specifically near the Tiger Tiger nightclub. At approximately 1: 30 a.m., an ambulance crew attending to an ill individual noticed smoke and suspicious fumes emanating from a silver Mercedes-Benz W124 saloon. The vehicle was found to be packed with petrol, gas canisters—specifically propane—and nails, all connected to a mobile phone-based trigger. The materials used in both vehicles were remarkably similar, according to police officials. Authorities were also heavily reviewing vast amounts of CCTV footage to identify those responsible.
Hours later, a second bomb was identified in a blue Mercedes-Benz 280E. This vehicle had been ticketed for illegal parking on Cockspur Street at 2:30 a.m. The discovery of these devices occurred just days before the second anniversary of the July 7 bombings, which had previously killed 52 people.
and moved to a car pound at Park Lane by 3:30 a.m.. It was only after staff at the pound noticed a strong smell of petrol and heard news of the first device that the second threat was reported. At the time, the UK government, led by newly appointed Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was facing its first major security challenge. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith described the situation as a Smith characterized the situation as the most serious and sustained threat to national security. This period of high alert followed a period of over a year where the UK's terrorist threat level had remained at severe.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: London Police Find Second Car Bomb : NPR
- Also: 2007 London car bombs
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