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By Jack Nichols
It is believed that there are a number of casualties, but there are no reports of fatalities. Eyewitnesses claim there is extensive damage to Old Compton Street and Dean Street. Emergency services are on the scene.
Those killed were so badly mutilated that "they didn't look human any more." The third victim, who had not been expected to live, was declared dead on Saturday.
London newspapers ran large photos of blood-soaked victims under headlines such as, "Gay Bar Nail Bomb Horror" and "New Neo-Nazi Outrage Hits London".
The White Wolves, racial supremacists—variously labeled neo-Nazis or right-wing zealots—took credit for the murderous assault, one which British authorities are calling "cowardly." Arrests of right-wing suspects today proved stiff British resolve in the fight against neo-Nazism. Last week, another nail bomb injuring seven in London's Bangladeshi community had been set off by a similar group calling itself Combat 18. (1 & 8 being the positions in the alphabet of Adolf Hitler's initials). And finally, a third bomb injuring 39 exploded in a London district peopled by Afro-Caribbean residents. A right-wing murder plot against England's minority communities is underway, a fact noted prior to the bombing by The Pink Paper, an English gay newsmagazine. "Clearly, they (the 3 bombings) are linked, said Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon, "Clearly, they are hate devices.'' The Commissioner warned London's citizenry to be wary of strange packages for which no one can account. A second News Flash read: Police have confirmed that the device used in the bomb blast this evening was similar to the nail bombs used in Brixton and Brick Lane in recent weeks. St Thomas's Hospital has announced that two men were tragically killed by the blast, and 72 people were injured. A dedicated phone-line has been set up for worried friends and relatives - 0171 834 7777. Two hours after the blast, the White Wolves had phoned the BBC to take credit for the murders and for demolishing the gay bar.
Reports of living bodies with missing limbs circulated throughout the city. There was glass everywhere and those injured seemed immediately to know what had happened as they lay scattered and bleeding in the crowded street. Linking the anti-gay bombers with fascism and Nazi fanatics, two venerable London-based anti-hate groups, the National Assembly Against Racism and Fascism, and Unison and the Anti-Nazi League (Supported by OUTRAGE!) marched through London 5,000 strong on Saturday afternoon.
An $80,000 reward was offered by police and others for information leading to the capture of the
perpetrators. It is not yet clear whether Friday's and Saturday's arrests of four were based on a tip. Two of the suspects have been released on bail. A third had been arrested on Friday in connection with the Bangladeshi and Afro-Caribbean bombings.
One of the men arrested is believed identifiable because of his white cap featured on police videotape of the bombing site. Explosives were found in the suspect's home. |
