2007 London car bombs

Averted terrorist attack January 2018 January 2018 2007 London car bombs Islamic terrorist attack Haymarket car bomb.jpg The Mercedes-Benz on Haymarket covered by a tent London, England Haymarket and Park Lane 2007 6 29 yes Attempted car bombing, attempted mass murder Car bomb 0 0 Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed On 29 June 2007, two car bombs in London were discovered and disabled before they could be detonated. The first device was left near the Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket at around 01:30, and the second was left in Cockspur Street, located in close proximity to the nightclub. The first car bomb was reported to the police by the door staff of Tiger Tiger. About an hour later, the second car bomb was ticketed for illegal parking, and an hour after that, transported to the car pound at Park Lane,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6255960.stm Two car bombs found in West End 29 June 2007 BBC News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070715185818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm 15 July 2007 live dmy where staff noticed a strong smell of petrol and reported the vehicle to police when they heard about the first device.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555963/Second-car-bomb-found-in-Londons-West-End.html Second car bomb found in London's West End Gardham Duncan Peck Sally 29 June 2007 The Daily Telegraph 29 June 2007 en-GB 0307-1235 The event coincided with the appointment of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister two days earlier, but Downing Street dismissed suggestions of a connection. Airport attack nothing to do with Brown's Scottish roots, says No 10 The Scotsman 3 July 2007 6 July 2007 http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1033262007 Edinburgh James Kirkup Hamish Macdonnell A close link was quickly established to the Glasgow Airport attack the following day. Bilal Abdullah, arrested following the Glasgow attack, was later found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to both incidents and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 32 years in prison. His co-conspirator, Kafeel Ahmed, died of injuries sustained in the failed Glasgow attack. Discovery of car bombs thumb|upright|Haymarket thumb|Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket A bomb was reported to the police by the door staff of the Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket. At the time, an ambulance crew was attending to a minor incident at the nightclub when they noticed suspicious fumes coming from a vehicle.http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272962,00.html Bomb Attempt: Police Briefing 29 June 2007 Sky News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701212523/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C70131-1272962%2C00.html 1 July 2007 live dmy The vehicle was reported to have contained liters of petrol, gas cylinders, and nails. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6253802.stm BBC News Q&A: UK terror investigation 1 July 2007 30 June 2007 Scotland Yard reported that while the gas contained in the canisters and the quantity of the canisters remained unknown, further details would be given after analysis by forensic experts. The head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command said, "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life." According to Sky News, the gas cylinders contained propane.http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1272910,00.html Two Bombs Were Set To Blow in London 29 June 2007 Sky News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701035321/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C70131-1272910%2C00.html 1 July 2007 dead dmy alt=|thumb|A Mercedes-Benz W124, similar to the car involved in the bombing. A second car bomb was believed to have been left in the same area at around the same time. The vehicle received a parking ticket in Cockspur Street at 02:30. At about 03:30, it was transported to the Park Lane car pound. However, staff left the vehicle in a public area after smelling petrol fumes, and they then alerted police upon hearing about the discovery of the bomb at Tiger Tiger.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6255452.stm Police hunt for London car bomber 29 June 2007 BBC News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701194038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255452.stm 1 July 2007 live dmy Both vehicles were made by Mercedes-Benz. The first was a light-green metallic Mercedes-Benz W124 saloon, registration number G824 VFK. The second was a blue Mercedes-Benz 280E. The cars and their devices were recovered intact for forensic examination, and both were found to contain petrol cans, gas canisters, and a quantity of nails, with a mobile phone-based trigger.Car Bombs: Inside Vehicle Borne Improvized Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) https://www.rusi.orghttps//www.rusi.org 2025-11-15 www.rusi.orghttps en 1 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230901190943/https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russias-iranian-made-uavs-technical-profile dead Suspects Bilal Abdullah Kafeel Ahmed Bilal Abdullah and Kafeel Ahmed were identified as the main suspects behind the London car bombs and the subsequent Glasgow attack. Abdullah was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions,British police charge Iraqi doctor over failed car bombings The Hindu 7 July 2007 7 July 2007 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200707070301.htm Chennai, India dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200950/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200707070301.htm 30 September 2007 while Ahmed was hospitalized at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in critical condition after he suffered severe burns to 90% of his body. He was not expected to survive—he had already been revived twice as of 4 July. Ringleader 'Al-Qaeda sleeper' CourierMail.com.au 4 July 2007 4 July 2007 http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22020874-952,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110811075245/http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/ringleader-al-qaeda-sleeper/story-e6freooo-1111113890057 dead 11 August 2011 Paul Kent A suicide note left behind indicates that they intended to die in the attack. Glasgow suspects left suicide note The Australian 6 July 2007 6 July 2007 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22026060-601,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070706201115/http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22026060-601,00.html dead 6 July 2007 On 2 August 2007, Strathclyde Police reported that Ahmed had died in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Glasgow Airport attack man dies BBC News 2007-08-02 2007-08-02 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6928854.stm His last rituals were held in the UK. On 17 December 2009, Abdullah was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder for the incidents in both London and Glasgow and sentenced to life imprisonment with a requirement that he spend at least 32 years in jail.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7786884.stm BBC News Bomb plot doctor jailed for life 17 December 2008 9 July 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20081230224607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7786884.stm 30 December 2008 live Investigations were being carried out to unearth Abdullah and Ahmed's possible involvement with the deadly 2005 Indian Institute of Science shooting, an attack by unknown suspects still at large.Bangalore terror link puts IISc attack under scanner ibnlive.com 10 July 2007 10 July 2007 http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bangalore-terror-link-puts-iisc-attack-under-scanner/44429-3.html 27 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213322/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bangalore-terror-link-puts-iisc-attack-under-scanner/44429-3.html dead Timeline Local time (GMT+1)Event 29 June 2007 01:25 London Ambulance Service crew report seeing smoke in a car parked in Haymarket. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen the car being driven "erratically" and then crashing into bins, after which the driver got out and ran off. 02:00 Metropolitan Police officers investigate the vehicle and cordon off the area.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6252276.stm Police avert car bomb "carnage" 29 June 2007 BBC News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070706152731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm 6 July 2007 live dmy 02:30 A second car is found illegally parked in Cockspur Street, near Trafalgar Square.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6256386.stm London car bombs timeline 30 June 2007 BBC News 30 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070706131623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6256386.stm 6 July 2007 live dmy 03:30 The second car is taken to a car pound in Park Lane. Police manually disable a device in the first car. 04:00 A witness sees the police removing gas canisters from the car. 08:00 Piccadilly Circus Underground station is closed. 10:25 The car is taken from Haymarket and sent to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's research site at Fort Halstead in Kent.http://www.kentnews.co.uk//kent-news/Fort-Halstead-probes-car-in-London-security-scare-newsinkent4217.aspx Fort Halstead probes car in London security scare 29 June 2007 Kent News 30 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070702112906/http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Fort-Halstead-probes-car-in-London-security-scare-newsinkent4217.aspx 2 July 2007 dead dmy 10:30 The COBR committee meets to discuss the issue. Piccadilly Circus Underground station is reopened. 14:30Park Lane is closed off after a second suspect vehicle is discovered in an underground car park.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070629/tuk-britain-attacks-alert-a7ad41d.html Central London street sealed off amid new alert 29 June 2007 Yahoo! News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701201621/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070629/tuk-britain-attacks-alert-a7ad41d.html 1 July 2007 live dmy 15:45A police bomb investigation robot is seen near the entrance to the car park. 17:00 Police cordon off Fleet Street after finding a third suspicious vehicle. 18:00Fleet Street re-opens after nothing is found in the vehicle.19:00Police confirm that a second device has been located at the Park Lane site. 20:45Police confirm that both vehicles were packed with nails, petrol and gas cylinders. Aftermath 2007 UK terrorist incidents Glasgow Airport attack A spokesperson for Pride London stated that the route of their Gay Pride march, set for 30 June 2007, would be unchanged, although extra precautions such as removing bins would be implemented.http://www.pridelondon.org/ Car bomb found in London 29 June 2007 Pride London 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070621175455/http://www.pridelondon.org/ 21 June 2007 usurped dmy The police do not think the attacks were targeted at the event. Other suspicious vehicles in Park Lane and Fleet Streethttp://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2919779720070629 Peter Graff and Mark Trevelyan Police find two car bombs in central London 29 June 2007 Reuters UK 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701133104/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2919779720070629 1 July 2007 dead dmy were investigated by police, as well as reports of suspicious cars in other areas of the UK, such as Warrington,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/6253720.stm Police lift town exclusion zone 29 June 2007 BBC News 29 June 2007 which suffered a 1993 bomb attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Office workers, students and tourists were still enjoying a Friday night out in London only hours after the discovery of the bombs. Bars and clubs remained open, and London mayor Ken Livingstone urged the capital's communities to work together to defeat the terrorism threat.https://www.theguardian.com/terrorism/story/0,,2115283,00.html London The Guardian Rachel Williams Helen Pidd Rupert Neate Bomb alerts and travel chaos fail to deter West End revellers 30 June 2007 30 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070702181432/http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0%2C%2C2115283%2C00.html 2 July 2007 live dmy Security at Wimbledon was increased as a result of the incident.http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=89624 Associated Press Security increased at Wimbledon due to terrorist threat 29 June 2007 Tennis.com 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070704024625/http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=89624 4 July 2007 live dmy Whitehall sources later stated that "international elements" were believed to be involved with the bomb. It was reported that police had a "crystal clear" picture of the driver of the first car and suspect he may be an individual formerly detained in relation to the case of convicted terrorist Dhiren Barot.Brian Ross and Richard Esposito: Terror Plot Involves Islamic Extremists; Police Have 'Crystal Clear' Picture of Suspect, ABC News, 29 June 2007 Barot was connected to an earlier "limousine bomb" plot, which also involved cars packed with propane gas cylinders.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756619.stm BBC News The men who made a plot possible 15 June 2007 Dominic Casciani 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070812080716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6756619.stm 12 August 2007 live dmy CBS News reported that a message appeared on the widely used jihadist Internet forum Al-Hesbah at 08:09, 28 June 2007, stating: "Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed." The message went on to mention the recently announced knighthood of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/was-london-bomb-plot-heralded-on-web/ Tucker Reals Was London Bomb Plot Heralded on Web? 29 June 2007 CBS News 29 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070701155251/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/29/terror/main2997517.shtml 1 July 2007 live dmy The following day, in another incident, a Jeep Cherokee was set on fire and driven into the main departure terminal of Glasgow Airport, causing minor damage. Two men, believed to be of Asian appearance, were arrested at the scene. One, who had been on fire, was taken to a nearby hospital, and the other to a police station. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that the attack was being treated as a terrorist attack and that the United Kingdom terrorism threat level had been elevated from "Severe" to "Critical," meaning "further attacks are expected imminently." In a press conference, Glasgow police said this attack and the car bombs in London were believed to be linked.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6257194.stm BBC News Blazing car crashes into airport 30 June 2007 30 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070707165213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6257194.stm 7 July 2007 live dmy UK Home Office: Current Threat Level https://web.archive.org/web/20060812135926/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/current-threat-level/ 12 August 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/terrorism/story/0,,2115693,00.html London The Guardian Jo Revill Mark Townsend Paul Kelbie Terror threat 'critical' as Glasgow attacked 1 July 2007 30 June 2007 The BBC reported that a mobile phone found after the arrest of the Glasgow suspects contained the numbers of those involved in the London bombing attempts. At approximately 21:30 on 30 June, officers of the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police arrested two people at junction 16 on the northbound M6 motorway near Sandbach in south Cheshire, blocking the motorway for about 40 minutes.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6257606.stm BBC News UK terror threat now 'critical' 1 July 2007 1 July 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070708103157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6257606.stm 8 July 2007 live dmy http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/04/london.investigation/index.html CNN UK police find suicide note about terror plot – CNN.com 4 July 2007 4 July 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070716063946/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/04/london.investigation/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto 16 July 2007 live dmy On 18 December, gallantry awards for two of the Metropolitan Police explosive officers involved in defusing the devices were gazetted. Paul Humphrey received the Queen's Gallantry Medal (the third highest such medal in the UK honors system), and Gary Anthony Wright received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.58544 y 18305–18306 18 December 2007 See also London 2001 Birmingham bombing 7 July 2005 London bombings 21 July 2005 London attempted bombings References External links Washington Post Photo Gallery In pictures: Car bomb discovered (BBC News) London mayor calls for vigilance (BBC) Metropolitan Police press conference (video) (BBC) Public On Alert As Car Bombing Foiled (Sky News) Al-Jazeera News coverage (in English) London Heathrow opens after alert BBC News, Heathrow T4 Suspect package Category:2000s in the City of Westminster Category:2007 crimes in the United Kingdom Category:2007 in London Category:June 2007 UK terrorist incidents Category:Car and truck bombings in London Category:Failed terrorist attempts in the United Kingdom Category:Islamic terrorism in London Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2007 Category:June 2007 crimes in Europe Category:June 2007 in the United Kingdom Category:Terrorist incidents in London in the 2000s Category:Terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom in 2007 Category:Car and truck bombings in 2007 Category:Attacks on nightclubs Category:Nail bombings