LONDON

The news from London is confusing right now and I’m trying to piece it together. This seems odd:

Reports suggested that a number of blasts had been caused by dummy blasts caused by detonator caps exploding, unconnected to explosives. Witnesses at the various scenes said the blasts had come from rucksacks; police appealed for images from mobile phones from witnesses. The Met said after initial examinations at Warren Street and Oval, “early indications show no trace of chemical agents”.

Copy-cat scare tactics? Failed explosions? 7/7 repeated as farce? No casualties as yet. Londoners seem to be responding appropriately:

Witnesses at the Oval described a “small explosion” from a bag. One witness said man had joined the train carrying a bag and that passengers had scuffled with him but failed to stop him. “He had a black holdall when he boarded the train,” he told Sky News. “He put it down and suddenly ran off the train. People tried to stop him but he got away. There was then a noise which sounded like the popping of Champagne corks.”

Stay tuned.