Afternoon:
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Gang in attack on 11 Tube trains
Dick Murray23.04.09
Terrified Tube commuters cowered in their seats as a gang of youths threw a fusillade of bricks and rocks which smashed carriage windows.
Eleven Central line trains were attacked in White City and Acton and there were unconfirmed reports that an air rifle was fired at passengers.
British Transport Police are investigating the attack in the area known for vandalism. There have been previous attacks on Central line trains with scaffold poles used in one.
The passengers and drivers escaped injury but the 11 trains had broken windows and other damage and were withdrawn from service, causing long delays last night. Engineers and glaziers worked through the night to get the trains back into service today.
A union boss said that unless police and security measures were increased, train services would be withdrawn.
Steve Grant, London district secretary of Aslef, the train drivers' union, said: “This was a very serious attack. We could easily have had passengers or staff seriously injured or even killed.
“Security must be stepped up. If not I will order our members to withdraw their services on safety grounds for passengers and their own sakes.”
London Underground said: “We condemn this senseless vandalism.”
Reader views (19)
I was on the central line today between White City and East Acton at around 18:30 when our carriage was attacked and am just glad no one was hurt. Surely if this has already happened last night in the same area there should have been more efforts to increase police presence in the area? It's all very well condemning the actions of mindless yobs but that's not enough to protect citizens, tourists and those travelling to and from work on which London is relying on so heavily during these hard times.
- A, Ealing, UK
I was on one of the trains, and my head was inches away from the impact point of one of the smashed windows. It looked and sounded like the window had been shot at with a bullet-like-hole at the centre of the glass which then shattered. I had no idea at the time ten other trains had been attacked though.
- Rhys, London
UK police have no problems bringing out the big guns to protect financial institutions (see recent city of London events) yet can't protect law abiding commuters! UK PLC cares only about money and not about it's citizens.
- Pablo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Since these attacks went on for hours it shows the police and government totally failed to protect its citizens. The police may require further resources, but the government must explain to us why this happened, and what will be done to stop it happening again.
- Amarylis Chatfield, London
These people are bandits, not vandals, because vandalism is damaging of the property, without direct threat of causing harm to anyone - these mindless yobs could have easily killed someone...
- H, London, UK
Quote: Russell, LONDON.
Once again..where were the police?
This went on for two hours without police intervention?
Something is seriously wrong here??
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They had their electric police car batteries knicked by two old dears in their electric scooters; Russell.
Latest report was; electric scooters found on motorway.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Once again..where were the police?
This went on for two hours without police intervention?
Something is seriously wrong here??
- Russell, LONDON
If they had time to attack 11 trains, where were the police? Did no-one call 999? Did the police not think it was worth responding?!
- Graham, London
The BTP are a joke. According to them, “It was a concentrated attack which went on for a couple of hours". So why didn't they get there and catch the culprits red-handed? Unless those responsible are caught very soon, we can look forward to copy cat attacks around London.
- Austen, London
Bring back public floggings and hangings, thats the only way they will learn.
- Kuldip, London, UK
If the throwing etc went on for hours, did no one think to call the police? Surely there is some CCTV footage.
- Ben Farrell, London
A 2 hour long attack?
Why weren't they caught? Clue for the police - the gang were around the White City and Acton areas in places within rock-throwing distance of the tube-line. For 2 hours. Surely it couldn't have been that difficult to round them up?
Next time something like this happens, treat it as a potential terrorist incident and bring out the heavy armoury. These idiots could have killed innocent Londoners.
- Ged, Blackheath, London
How was this allowed to go on for 2 hours?
- Dereck, London, England
“It was a concentrated attack which went on for a couple of hours!" So what were the police up to at the time?
- Paul, London
British Transport Police are now probing the incident. A source close to the investigation said: “It was a concentrated attack which went on for a couple of hours.
So what the hell were the BTP doing for the couple of hours while this was going on? Even if they do catch those responsible, what then? a slap on the wrist...
- Alan, London
A source close to the investigation said: “It was a concentrated attack which went on for a couple of hours. A COUPLE OF HOURS!!! What were the BTP doing, on a tea break!?!
- Ade, London
Oh diddums Scott, did someone touch a sore point? Or perhaps you were one of the vandals?
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London
while I agree with the sentiment, who is this jumped up arthur scargill wannabe to be declaring he will "order" people to do anything?
- Scott, london
Catch the thugs and JAIL them.
Tougher sentences are the only answer now.
- Rollo, London
