Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Report: Eight dead in Hempstead blast
Jerusalem Post ^ | Dec. 11, 2005 9:47 | JPOST.COM STAFF

Posted on 12/11/2005 12:07:48 AM PST by ScaniaBoy

Zaka reported that the series of explosions that rocked the Buncefield oil depot in Hevel Hempstead, 25 miles north of London, were set off when a plane crashed into the oil storage facility at Leverstock Green.

The oil depot is located near Luton Airport.

Eyewitnesses have reported that people were injured in the incident, although the number and severity of the injuries were unknown. Ambulances were on their way to evacuate the victims.

Eyewitnesses reported "enormous" blasts, which shook structures for miles around.

The Hempstead Ramada hotel, whose windows were heavily damaged, has been evacuated.

A large fire broke out, sending smoke billowing up and turning the sky "orange." Flames reportedly shot up two and three stories.

Passing drivers reportedly stopped their cars and were gazing at the spectacle.

Rescue forces stress that at this time they do not know whether the explosions were an accident, possibly a technical problem, or acts of terror.

Police have closed off the immediate area.

On July 7, the London Underground was targeted by a series of bombings that killed over 50 people.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airport; deathtoll; explosion; explosions; london; luton
See also: (Updated) BREAKING NEWS: Massive Series of Explosions rock Southern England
1 posted on 12/11/2005 12:07:50 AM PST by ScaniaBoy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

CNN International is saying that a plane did not play a role.


2 posted on 12/11/2005 12:08:54 AM PST by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I'd like to know what we're talking about.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: scott7278

JPost didn't give a source for their claim - However, all news sources seem to be confused. Very little info at Telegraph and the Times web pages at present. So I'll leave the thread open (pace the Moderators) and we will see how it pans out.


3 posted on 12/11/2005 12:13:30 AM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

Yes, I imagine there's quite a bit of confusion right now.


4 posted on 12/11/2005 12:14:52 AM PST by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I'd like to know what we're talking about.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: scott7278

What is Fox News Saying?


5 posted on 12/11/2005 12:17:14 AM PST by H. Paul Pressler IV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: H. Paul Pressler IV

Nothing right now...nothing but reruns. This is the live thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1538156/posts?q=1&&page=1


6 posted on 12/11/2005 12:23:32 AM PST by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I'd like to know what we're talking about.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

No cars being torched...yet?


7 posted on 12/11/2005 12:24:41 AM PST by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death"( Al-Qaeda & Democratic Party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: scott7278
Post #282 on the live thread quotes "neighbours" seeing a plane going down just prior to the explosions. Also, on the same thread a woman living about 30 miles south of Luton posted on Sky News site that she had heard a plane "that didn't sound right" pass above before the first explosion.

However, none of these stories have been confirmed and the police is reportedly handling this as an accident.
8 posted on 12/11/2005 12:33:19 AM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

I'm sure the religion of peace has it's fingers all over it


9 posted on 12/11/2005 12:34:38 AM PST by Cinnamon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

The police have said that there was certainly no plane involved. Likely that the people a few miles away who reported hearing a plane were actually hearing the start of the actual explosion.


10 posted on 12/11/2005 12:48:06 AM PST by Canard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cinnamon

According to the BBC "[the explosion] is being treated as an accident and rumours that a plane was involved are unfounded, said a police spokesman".

But it is probably too early to say.

The only thing we do know is that it was not caused by the Lutheran Liberation Army (LLA).

:)


11 posted on 12/11/2005 12:51:02 AM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

must be them Puritans Liberation Front people...lmao


12 posted on 12/11/2005 1:04:36 AM PST by Cinnamon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Canard

If Islam is a religion of peace....
....Communism is a philosophy of Economic Opportunity
....Nihlism is a Pious religous philosophy
....Bill Clinton is the most moral man in America
....Naziism is an ideology of tolerance
....Marijuana is the herbal gift of God

Everything I needed to learn about Islam--I learned on 9/11

There is no god named allah, and mohammed is a false prophet


13 posted on 12/11/2005 1:34:27 AM PST by Schwaeky (Islam is a religion of Peace just like Nazism is an Ideology of tolerance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Schwaeky

Eh? Not sure how that's a reply to my post?


14 posted on 12/11/2005 1:50:25 AM PST by Canard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Canard; ScaniaBoy
There's a link on the other thread to a BBC story about a security guard who escaped being killed in a nearby building occupied by Fuji Film -- he reports smelling strong fumes in the building before the explosion and sticking his head out an open window to get relief, only to discover that the smell was just as strong outside.

Sounds like an accidental spill, attended by the formation of a big vapor-cloud.

Similar incident happened at a natural-gas storage facility 30 miles from Houston, about 15 years ago. Office buildings in Houston swayed on their foundations when it finally was ignited by a passing car about 7 a.m. -- the car was crushed and its occupants killed. Fuel-air explosions can be extraordinarily powerful.

15 posted on 12/11/2005 10:06:25 AM PST by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: lentulusgracchus; Canard
I have read this story. Since it appears, thank God, that everyone who was working on the site escaped with their lives, it should be possible to corroborate this story, and possible to get first hand information on what really happened.

However, I still find it a strange coincidence that this explosion occurred the 11 day of the 12 month (remember 9/11 and 3/11) only days after Scotland Yard issued a public warning about al Qaeda activities in Britain, and not long after al-Zawahiri called for attacks on oil installations in the Middle East.

Could be a coincidence, but good reasons to stay alert and vigilant.
16 posted on 12/11/2005 10:32:20 AM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ScaniaBoy

Agreed, let's just wait on investigative results.


17 posted on 12/11/2005 12:31:40 PM PST by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: lentulusgracchus
From The Sunday Telegraph:

Some 100 police officers were at the scene alongside more than 100 firefighters. Hertfordshire's Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher: "This is possibly the largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe

"The damage a fire of this intensity will cause may, or may not, leave clues for the fire investigation team."

"We are hours away from launching an attack on the fire," he added. "At worst it could wait until tomorrow morning."

In total, 20 petrol tanks were involved in the blaze, each said to hold three million gallons of fuel.

At the moment no one knows anything about what caused this fire. The Police has actually been very cautious in their statements, not ruling anything out. However, as always MSM because of bias or just inability to properly express themselves, has managed to convey the message that it is certain that it was not a terrorist attack.

18 posted on 12/11/2005 12:43:37 PM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson