Attacks on the London Underground
Encyclopedia
This is a list of deliberate attacks on the infrastructure, staff or passengers of the London Underground
that have caused considerable damage, injury or death.
train at Gower Street (now Euston Square
) station.
train exploded at Aldersgate Street station (now Barbican) on 26 April 1897. 60 people were injured, ten seriously, but the only fatality was Harry Pitts
(born in 1861 in Devon) who died from his injuries.
At the inquest into Pitts' death, the jury found that he had been killed "by a bomb, or some other explosive, maliciously placed in the carriage by some unknown person or persons". A verdict of "wilful murder" was recorded.
station.
, is an Irish Republican paramilitary organisation which, until the Belfast Agreement
, sought to end Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom and bring about a United Ireland through armed force. On a number of occasions the group attacked the London Underground.
exploded in the left luggage offices at Tottenham Court Road
and Leicester Square
stations on 3 February 1939.
ticket hall. The bomb was defused.
A week later another bomb was found by a member of staff at the same station and again was defused.
On 26 December 1973 a bomb was detonated in a telephone kiosk in the booking hall at Sloane Square station
. Nobody was injured.
and was defused.
On 15 March an IRA bomb exploded on a Metropolitan Line
train at West Ham station
, on the Hammersmith & City section
of the line. The bomber, Vincent Donnelly, possibly took the wrong train and attempted to return to his destination. However, the bomb detonated prior to reaching the City of London
area. Donnelly shot Peter Chalk, a Post Office
engineer, and shot and killed the train's driver Julius Stephen who attempted to catch the perpetrator. Donnelly then shot himself, but was apprehended by police.
On 16 March an empty train was severely damaged by a bomb at Wood Green station
. The train was about to pick up fans from an Arsenal Football match, but the bomb detonated prior to arriving at the station, injuring one passenger standing on the platform. Three men were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for this attack.
.
On 23 December two IRA bombs exploded, one on a train at Harrow-on-the-Hill station
causing no injuries, and a smaller one on a train at Neasden
depot.
and Neasden station
devices were found and defused. One device went off at Barking station
.
exploded on Underground trains between Aldgate
and Liverpool Street stations, Russell Square
and King's Cross St. Pancras
stations and Edgware Road
and Paddington stations. A double-decker
bus at Tavistock Square
was also destroyed. The bombs were detonated by four homegrown terrorist
suicide bombers. The explosions killed 52 people and resulted in over 700 injuries.
, unconnected with those on 7 July, were attempted on 21 July 2005 at Shepherd's Bush
, Warren Street and Oval
stations, as well as on a bus in Shoreditch
. In these incidents, each bomb detonator fired, but did not ignite the main explosive charge. The only injury reported initially was a bystander suffering an asthma
attack.
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
that have caused considerable damage, injury or death.
1885 Gower Street bombing
In January 1885 a bomb exploded on a Metropolitan LineMetropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
train at Gower Street (now Euston Square
Euston Square tube station
Euston Square is a London Underground station at the corner of Euston Road and Gower Street, just north of University College London and within walking distance of Euston railway station. It is between Great Portland Street and King's Cross St. Pancras on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and...
) station.
1897 Aldersgate bombing
A bomb left by an anarchist group on a Metropolitan RailwayMetropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
train exploded at Aldersgate Street station (now Barbican) on 26 April 1897. 60 people were injured, ten seriously, but the only fatality was Harry Pitts
Harry Pitts
Harry Pitts was the first person to be killed by a terrorist attack on the London Underground.Pitts died of injuries received from a bomb which exploded at Aldersgate Station on 26 April 1897. The bomb was planted by Russian anarchists in revenge for one of their members being given a seven year...
(born in 1861 in Devon) who died from his injuries.
At the inquest into Pitts' death, the jury found that he had been killed "by a bomb, or some other explosive, maliciously placed in the carriage by some unknown person or persons". A verdict of "wilful murder" was recorded.
1913 Westbourne Park bombing
In February 1913 a bomb - possibly planted by the Suffragettes - was discovered at Westbourne ParkWestbourne Park tube station
Westbourne Park is a London Underground station on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2 in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . Although the Metropolitan Railway had been extended to Notting Hill and Hammersmith...
station.
IRA attacks
The Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
, is an Irish Republican paramilitary organisation which, until the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
, sought to end Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom and bring about a United Ireland through armed force. On a number of occasions the group attacked the London Underground.
1939 attacks
Bombs planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA)Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
exploded in the left luggage offices at Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road tube station
Tottenham Court Road is a London Underground station in central London. It is an interchange between the Central line and the branch of the Northern line.On the Central line it is between and , and on the Northern line it is between and...
and Leicester Square
Leicester Square tube station
Leicester Square is a station on the London Underground, located on Charing Cross Road, a short distance to the east of Leicester Square itself....
stations on 3 February 1939.
1973 IRA attacks
On 23 August 1973 a bomb was found in an abandoned bag in Baker Street stationBaker Street tube station
Baker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
ticket hall. The bomb was defused.
A week later another bomb was found by a member of staff at the same station and again was defused.
On 26 December 1973 a bomb was detonated in a telephone kiosk in the booking hall at Sloane Square station
Sloane Square tube station
Sloane Square is a London Underground station in Sloane Square, in the Chelsea district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is served by the District and Circle Lines and is between South Kensington and Victoria. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
. Nobody was injured.
1976 IRA attacks
On 13 February a bomb weighing 20 pounds (9.1 kg) was found in a small case at Oxford Circus stationOxford Circus tube station
-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
and was defused.
On 15 March an IRA bomb exploded on a Metropolitan Line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
train at West Ham station
West Ham station
West Ham station is an interchange station located on the corner of Manor Road and Memorial Avenue in the West Ham neighbourhood of the London Borough of Newham in east London, England. The station is served by London Underground, National Rail and Docklands Light Railway services...
, on the Hammersmith & City section
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
of the line. The bomber, Vincent Donnelly, possibly took the wrong train and attempted to return to his destination. However, the bomb detonated prior to reaching the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
area. Donnelly shot Peter Chalk, a Post Office
Post Office Telecommunications
Post Office Telecommunications was set up as a separate department of the UK Post Office, in October 1969. The Post Office Act of that year was passed to provide for greater efficiency in post and telephone services; rather than run a range of services, each organisation would be able to focus on...
engineer, and shot and killed the train's driver Julius Stephen who attempted to catch the perpetrator. Donnelly then shot himself, but was apprehended by police.
On 16 March an empty train was severely damaged by a bomb at Wood Green station
Wood Green tube station
Wood Green is a London Underground station on the Piccadilly Line. The station is between Turnpike Lane and Bounds Green stations and is in Travelcard Zone 3. It is located at junction of Wood Green High Road and Lordship Lane...
. The train was about to pick up fans from an Arsenal Football match, but the bomb detonated prior to arriving at the station, injuring one passenger standing on the platform. Three men were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for this attack.
1991 IRA attacks
On 29 August three incendiary devices were found under a train at Hammersmith tube stationHammersmith tube station
There are two London Underground stations called Hammersmith:* Hammersmith tube station * Hammersmith tube station -See also:* Hammersmith & Chiswick railway station...
.
On 23 December two IRA bombs exploded, one on a train at Harrow-on-the-Hill station
Harrow-on-the-Hill station
Harrow-on-the-Hill station is a London Underground station served by National Rail and London Underground trains. It is located between College Road and Lowlands Road in the Greenhill area of Harrow, about half a mile north of the locality from which it takes its name.-Railway geography:The...
causing no injuries, and a smaller one on a train at Neasden
Neasden
Neasden is an area in northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent.-History:The area was recorded as Neasdun in 939 AD and the name is derived from the Old English nēos = 'nose' and dūn = 'hill'. It means 'the nose-shaped hill' referring to a well-defined landmark of this area...
depot.
1992 IRA attacks
In 1992 the IRA placed incendiary devices on several trains. At Elephant & Castle stationElephant & Castle tube station
Elephant & Castle tube station is a station on the London Underground system. It is located in the London Borough of Southwark and on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 1 and 2...
and Neasden station
Neasden tube station
Neasden Underground station is a London Underground station in Neasden. It is on the Jubilee Line, between Wembley Park and Dollis Hill. Metropolitan Line trains pass through the station but do not stop, except on rare occasions...
devices were found and defused. One device went off at Barking station
Barking station
Barking station is a railway station served by National Rail and London Underground services. It is located in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England. The station is in Zone 4, has nine platforms, and is managed by c2c. It has been proposed that ownership of...
.
2005 terrorist bomb attacks
In 2005 a group of Islamist extremists attacked a number of transportation lines in London.7 July
On 7 July 2005, bombs7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
exploded on Underground trains between Aldgate
Aldgate tube station
Aldgate tube station is a London Underground station located at Aldgate in the City of London.The station is on the Circle Line between Tower Hill and Liverpool Street. It is also the eastern terminus of the Metropolitan Line...
and Liverpool Street stations, Russell Square
Russell Square tube station
Russell Square is a London Underground station on Bernard Street, Bloomsbury in the London Borough of Camden. It is a small but busy station, often used by office workers and by tourists who are staying in Bloomsbury's numerous hotels. The station is a Grade II listed building.-History:The station...
and King's Cross St. Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
stations and Edgware Road
Edgware Road tube station
Edgware Road station is a London Underground station on the corner of Chapel Street and Cabbell Street Road in Travelcard Zone 1 serving the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines. The separate Edgware Road tube station is about 150 metres away on the opposite side of the Marylebone Road...
and Paddington stations. A double-decker
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
bus at Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square is a public square in Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden with a fine garden.-Public art:The centre-piece of the gardens is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which was installed in 1968....
was also destroyed. The bombs were detonated by four homegrown terrorist
Homegrown terrorism
Homegrown terrorism is commonly associated with an international organization rather than being a ‘lone wolf’ act committed by isolated and disturbed individuals. It constitutes terrorist attacks from within the target nation, often Western...
suicide bombers. The explosions killed 52 people and resulted in over 700 injuries.
21 July
Four more attacks21 July 2005 London bombings
On 21 July 2005, four attempted bomb attacks disrupted part of London's public transport system two weeks after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The explosions occurred around midday at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval stations on London Underground, and on a bus in Shoreditch...
, unconnected with those on 7 July, were attempted on 21 July 2005 at Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush tube station (Hammersmith and City Line)
Shepherd's Bush Market tube station is a London Underground station in the district of Shepherd's Bush in west London, England. It is on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines, between Goldhawk Road and Wood Lane stations, and it is in Travelcard Zone 2....
, Warren Street and Oval
Oval tube station
Oval tube station in Kennington is a station on the Northern line of the London Underground between Stockwell and Kennington stations. It is the only station on the Morden branch of the Northern line whose name begins with a vowel and is one of only two stations on the London Underground with only...
stations, as well as on a bus in Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
. In these incidents, each bomb detonator fired, but did not ignite the main explosive charge. The only injury reported initially was a bystander suffering an asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attack.