London. 14:15 GST. July 21, 2005

London police are regarding today's attacks on one bus in East London and at three underground stations spread across London as not of major significance. About a dozen underground stations are closed at this moment, and three underground lines, disrupting the 3,000,000 travellers who use the public transport network.

So far, it has been detonators, not bombs, which have exploded. Many witnesses have reported loud bangs and the smell of burning wires in the three stations involved.

However, a small number of eyewitness passengers have reported dramatic incidents. On one train, a bomber exploded his detonator on his own person. Although severely burned, he escaped the train and the station and eluded capture.

Another, alleged bomber was seen leaving a bag on and train and making a run for it, eluding capture by several Londoners at another underground station.

There has been one report of an injury to one innocent passenger in yet another station.

Dale Reynolds in London