Yesterday I saw the most horrific scenes in London that I have ever seen.
Being of an age where I don't remember (or rather recollect) the IRA attacks or the fire at Kings Cross station what I saw was really my only account of terrorism in London. I am forever thankful that I wasn't directly involved, yet I believe that every Londoner was affected and people across the country and even the world were shocked by what they saw in the rush hour of Thursday morning.
As I sat in my office glued to ever changing and speculative internet news reports, I felt sick to the very pit of my stomach to see and read about my London brothers and sisters, innocent people, caught in amongst this devastation. Also a sense of helplessness overpowered me as I sat unable to even offer the slightest amount of help to people barely miles from where I sat.
When I first became aware of the events, it was thought a power surge had caused explosions on the underground but later as reports of explosions of buses came in it became apparent that London had fallen victim to a terrorist attack. Initial reports stated as many as seven explosions across London including three buses and an explosion at a tube station not far from where I work.
As close and as real as these incidents were to me they still seemed like something happening in another city, in another country. However as the day went on, reality hit with a cold hard slap.
A colleague and friend who sits no further than 20 feet away from me was missing and had not called work or his wife. To come to work he would catch the tube from Edgware Road station (the scene of at least seven fatalities) at approximately the time of the explosion.
Later in the day he was officially reported missing.
At home I scoured faces in crowds and those of the injured on TV news reports in a hope to see...well something, anything.
At present he is still missing and our only hope is that he is one of the unknown injured that are still in hospital, the other possibility is almost unthinkable.
My thoughts and sympathy go to him and his family and to all of those who fell at the hands of the sick, callous and heartless people who brought devastation to one of the finest cities in the world.
The people responsible for yesterday's events should know that they have failed to terrorise the people of London and the UK. We are resilient people and no matter how hard you try to push us down, once the smoke has cleared you will see us still standing...tall and proud.
I must also thank the emergency services. If it was not for their immediate response and amazing preparation more lives would have been lost.
And also thank you to all the people of this forum concerned with the safety and welfare of our London members.
And a personal thank you to Misa J.
Peace
Smoke.
Being of an age where I don't remember (or rather recollect) the IRA attacks or the fire at Kings Cross station what I saw was really my only account of terrorism in London. I am forever thankful that I wasn't directly involved, yet I believe that every Londoner was affected and people across the country and even the world were shocked by what they saw in the rush hour of Thursday morning.
As I sat in my office glued to ever changing and speculative internet news reports, I felt sick to the very pit of my stomach to see and read about my London brothers and sisters, innocent people, caught in amongst this devastation. Also a sense of helplessness overpowered me as I sat unable to even offer the slightest amount of help to people barely miles from where I sat.
When I first became aware of the events, it was thought a power surge had caused explosions on the underground but later as reports of explosions of buses came in it became apparent that London had fallen victim to a terrorist attack. Initial reports stated as many as seven explosions across London including three buses and an explosion at a tube station not far from where I work.
As close and as real as these incidents were to me they still seemed like something happening in another city, in another country. However as the day went on, reality hit with a cold hard slap.
A colleague and friend who sits no further than 20 feet away from me was missing and had not called work or his wife. To come to work he would catch the tube from Edgware Road station (the scene of at least seven fatalities) at approximately the time of the explosion.
Later in the day he was officially reported missing.
At home I scoured faces in crowds and those of the injured on TV news reports in a hope to see...well something, anything.
At present he is still missing and our only hope is that he is one of the unknown injured that are still in hospital, the other possibility is almost unthinkable.
My thoughts and sympathy go to him and his family and to all of those who fell at the hands of the sick, callous and heartless people who brought devastation to one of the finest cities in the world.
The people responsible for yesterday's events should know that they have failed to terrorise the people of London and the UK. We are resilient people and no matter how hard you try to push us down, once the smoke has cleared you will see us still standing...tall and proud.
I must also thank the emergency services. If it was not for their immediate response and amazing preparation more lives would have been lost.
And also thank you to all the people of this forum concerned with the safety and welfare of our London members.
And a personal thank you to Misa J.
Peace
Smoke.
