Bibi avoids bomb, Israeli embassies alert, as London reels from bombings
By Israel Insider staff and partners July 7, 2005
Israeli embassies around the world went on high alert after a series of four bombings rocked central London -- three on Underground stations and one on a bus -- killing at least 37 and injuring 700, 45 critically. "Al Qaeda Europe" claimed responsibility.In the meantime, Minister of Finance Netanyahu was diverted from attending a conference after a bomb exploded near the meeting site. The AP ran, then retracted, an article implying Israel knew of the attacks ahead of time.
Contrary to a report released by AP, Israel was not warned ahead of time about the attacks, but instead embassy officials were informed by British officials only a few moments after the first explosion went off. This, according to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
"There was no early information about terrorist attacks," Shalom told Israel Army Radio. "After the first explosion, an order was given that no one move until things become clear. "
Israel was holding an economic conference in a hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred. Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was supposed to attend the conference, but in response to the warning, did not go to the conference, government officials said.
British police did not suggest that the economic conference was the target of the blast.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any Israeli casualties.
The Israeli ambassador to London, Zvi Hefetz, said Thursday that the embassy was in a state of emergency following the explosions in London, with no one allowed to enter or leave.
Danny Biran, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said all phone lines to the embassy were down.
The ministry has set up a situation room to deal with hundreds of phone calls from concerned relatives. Thousands of Israelis are living in London or visiting the city at this time, Biran said.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to stay in London until Sunday, but that could change, Gilad said.