21 July 2005 Attempted Attacks on London Transit System
Two weeks after the bombings on 7 July 2005, similar attacks were attempted on the London transit system. As with the previous series of attacks, three underground trains and a bus were the targets. In this incident, all four of the bombs failed to detonate properly. The would be bombers then fled the scene after the bombs drew attention with small explosions causing loud bangs and smoke. London Metropolitan Police reported one injury.
The attacks occurred between 12:25 PM GMT and 1:30 PM GMT. The first incident occurring at 12:25 PM GMT took place on the Hammersmith and City Line on a carriage near the Shepherd's Bush station. The Oval Station on the Northern Line was the scene of the next attempt five minutes later. After another 15 minutes, a further incident took place on the Warren Street Station on the Victoria Line. Following the pattern of the July 7 attacks, the final attempt was on a bus, the No. 26, which was traveling on Hackney Road in East London. In all four cases, the individual attempting to set the bombs off escaped. The scene of each incident was evacuated, causing some delays.
Authorities believed the bombers had intended on causing the same casualty and damage as the first attacks had, but no connection had been established. Investigators were examining the remains of each device to attempt to determine whether or not they were similar to the bombs in the other incident. Simultaneously, police were searching for the four suspects involved with the failed attempts, who as of 22 July were still at large.
At a press conference given by Tony Blair later in the afternoon near his offices at 10 Downing St., a man was arrested, as he was ordered at gunpoint to remove a rucksack at 3:25 PM GMT. Another arrested at Tottenham Court Road earlier in the day. The next morning police announced the two men had been released without charge.
At roughly 10:00 AM GMT on 22 July 2005, plain-clothed policemen shot and killed an Asian man after he failed to stop at the Stockwell Station of the London Underground. Unconfirmed reports stated the man shot had been followed because of CCTV evidence from the 21 July attempted bombings. There was some suggestion that he had been the suspect at the Oval Station incident. Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Ian Blair stated that the shooting was connected to anti-terrorist operations and confirmed that were was a connection with the events of the previous day.
Metropolitan Police released CCTV images of all four suspects in attempts as the search continued on 22 July. That same day, three addresses in London were raided in connection with the incidents of 21 July. A resident living near of one of the addresses raided told the BBC News she heard shots fired during the raid.
