2001 Car bomb in west London injures seven

A car bomb containing 45kg of explosives has been detonated in a busy west London street, injuring seven people.

The explosion happened just seconds after midnight in Ealing Broadway as hundreds of young people were leaving pubs and clubs.

Dissident Irish republicans are being blamed for the atrocity, which detectives have described as “a calculated, evil attack designed to maim and kill.”

Politicians from all sides have said it will only strengthen their resolve to reach a peace settlement.

At 2333 GMT yesterday a call was made to an on-call doctor warning of an explosion on “Ealing Broadway Road” – a non-existent location.

Less than half an hour later, the bomb – which was twice the size of the bomb which went off outside BBC Television Centre in March – exploded on The Broadway near to Ealing Broadway tube station.

Casualties were taken to Ealing hospital where four remain.

One man has serious lacerations to his head and another is undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury.

Debris caused by the bomb spread more than 200m (219 yards) and police said it was fortunate they were not dealing with mass murder.

Residents in the immediate area have been evacuated and forensic teams expect to be at the scene gathering evidence for at least 48 hours.

The Real IRA, an off-shoot of the Provisional IRA, has carried out seven attacks in London over the past 14 months.

Police, who are appealing for witnesses, have released details of the car involved in the attack.

It was a grey Saab 900, registration number E304 HPY.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The bomb caused an estimated £200,000 worth of damage to businesses in the immediate vicinity of the explosion.

Work to repair the damage continued for several months and many businesses struggled to get back on their feet.

In November 2001, two men, Noel Maguire, 32, and Aiden Hulme, 25, were arrested in connection with the bomb attacks outside the BBC on 3 March 2001, in Ealing on 3 August and in Birmingham on 3 November. Their trial began in January 2003.

Two others, James McCormack, 33, and Robert Hulme, 22, were also charged and admitted planning bombing campaigns in London and Birmingham.