The people behind the latest attacks in London meant to kill, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said. But Sir Ian Blair told reporters tonight evidence left at the scenes could be very helpful to police and added "the intention of the terrorists has failed".Attempts were made to set off explosives at four locations, including three Tube stations and on one bus. London Mayor Ken Livingstone praised the emergency services and said the people of London would "get through this". Police sources say the blasts may have been near-simultaneous and that they are being linked with the 7 July bombs. They say a number of fugitives are being sought. Two people have been arrested in Whitehall, central london.
Sir Ian said there was a "resonance" with the bomb attacks two weeks ago, but that it was too early to draw any conclusions about whether they were linked. Police forensic experts are examining the scenes, at Tube stations in Oval, Warren Street and Shepherd's Bush, and on a bus in Shoreditch, east London. He said important information could be recovered. "From what I understand, some of the devices remain unexploded," he said.
The Met commissioner warned against "smearing" any particular community with the blame for Thursday's attacks. "These are criminal acts and we are in pursuit of a set of criminals," he said.
Eyewitnesses heard bangs and saw abandoned rucksacks at the sites of the incidents at Warren Street and Oval tube stations as well as the number 26 bus, which was travelling from Waterloo towards Hackney and had just entered Hackney Road. There was an attempt to cause an explosion at Shepherd's Bush Hammersmith and City line, police said. Police told reporters that a man had threatened to blow himself up and then ran off.
At Warren Street and Oval a man was seen running away from the scene. On the bus, there were no injuries and the bus suffered no structural damage. Large areas around all four sites were cordoned off. Tests for chemical, biological and radiological weapons proved negative. One person was injured at Warren Street. There were reports the injured person may have been holding a rucksack containing the detonator.