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 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 suspects involved with the failed attempts.
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 was 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 a 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 four suspects 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.
While the fatal shooting by plain-clothed policemen on 22 July 2005, was initally thought to be of an Asian man, it was discovered that the man was actually a Brazilian citizen named Jean Charles de Menzes who was unconnected to the bombings but may have run from the police due to an expired visa. Sir Ian, the Chief of Metropolitan Police, said that while the shooting was regretable it remained necessary for the shoot to kill policy, in effect at the time for police when dealing with suspected suicide bombers, to remain.
On 25 July 2005, Metropolitan Police released the names of Yasin Hassan Omar, and Ibrahim Muktar Said in connection with the 21 July bombings. These two men were suspected of attempting to detonate bombs on three trains on 21 July. Later the names of Ramzi Mohamed, and Hussain Osman were released. In addition, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu was mentioned in connection to an explosive device found in West London in the vicinity of Little Wormwood Scrubs Park. This device was packed in a similar nature to those that were intended to be used by the men responsible for the attempted bombings. All five men were set to face trial in September 2005 to hear charges of, amongst others, conspiracy with others unknown to murder passengers on the Transport for London system. It was reported that a sixth man, Adel Yahya, 23, had been remanded in custody charged with plotting to cause by an explosive substance, explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
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