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An injured tube passenger is escorted away from Edgware Road Tube Station in London, following one of the explosions. (AP)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners July 8, 2005 |
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Israeli embassies around the world went on high alert after a series of four bombings rocked central London -- three on Underground stations and one on a bus -- killing at least 37 and injuring 700, 45 critically. "Al Qaeda Europe" claimed responsibility.
In the meantime, Minister of Finance Netanyahu was diverted from attending a conference after a bomb exploded near the meeting site. The AP ran an article implying Israel was informed by British intelligence of the attacks ahead of time.
Contrary to the AP report, Israel was not warned ahead of time about the attacks, but instead embassy officials were informed by British officials a few moments after the first explosion went off, according to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
"There was no early information about terrorist attacks," Shalom told Israel Army Radio. "After the first explosion, an order was given that no one move until things become clear. "
Israel was holding an economic conference in a hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred. Many officials, including the Israeli Ambassador to the UK Zvi Heifetz, were already in the hotel. Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was supposed to attend the conference, but in response to the warning, did not go to the conference.
British police did not suggest that the economic conference was the target of the blast.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any Israeli casualties.
Ambassador Heifetz said Thursday that the embassy was in a state of emergency following the explosions in London, with no one allowed to enter or leave.
Danny Biran, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said all phone lines to the embassy were down.
The ministry has set up a situation room to deal with hundreds of phone calls from concerned relatives. Thousands of Israelis are living in London or visiting the city at this time, Biran said.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to stay in London until Sunday, but that could change, Gilad said.
If you witnessed the London attacks, or have thoughts about it,please write to us and share your thoughts, or use Talkback below.
The AP contributed to this report.
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