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White House Bulletin, July 7, 2005
Scotland Yard Reportedly Tipped Off.
An Israeli official reportedly said that Scotland Yard had called the security officer at the Israeli Embassy to say they had received warnings of a possible attack moments before the blasts. The official added the former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to stay at his hotel rather than attend an economic conference at a hotel located above one of the Underground stations where the blasts occurred. There are also unconfirmed reports that British police had begun evacuating passengers from some trains prior to the bombs going off. However, British media were reporting this morning that British police officials are saying they had no warnings of the attacks.
Copyright White House Bulletin, 2005
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Netanyahu Changed Plans Due to Warning
By AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press Writer Thu Jul 7, 7:14 AM ET
JERUSALEM - British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes before Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of possible terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said.
Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to attend an economic conference in a hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred, and the warning prompted him to stay in his hotel room instead, government officials said.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any Israeli casualties. Just before the blasts, Scotland Yard called the security officer at the Israeli Embassy to say they had received warnings of possible attacks, the official said. He did not say whether British police made any link to the economic conference. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of his position.
The Israeli Embassy was in a state of emergency after the explosions in London, with no one allowed to enter or leave, said the Israeli ambassador to London, Zvi Hefet. All phone lines to the embassy were down, said Danny Biran, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official.
The ministry 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. Amir Gilad, a Netanyahu aide, told Israel Radio that Netanyahu's entourage was receiving updates all morning from British security officials, and "we have also asked to change our plans." Netanyahu had been scheduled to stay in London until Sunday, but that could change, Gilad said.
Copyright Associated Press, 2005
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Jerusalem Post, 7 July 2005
There were reports on Israel Radio that Scotland Yard had received early warnings of an imminent terrorist attack, and had shared details of these warnings with the Israeli Embassy in London.
However, staff at the Israeli Embassy have flatly denied the claim.
A spokesman said, "We were informed like everybody else, after the explosions. We were holding a conference, but after the police came to inform us of what had happened we took the appropriate action and decided not to continue with the conference."
The spokesman said the embassy was operating normally, and added, "We are horrified by the callous terror attacks in London this morning. Our thoughts are with the people of London and the families of those affected.
Post je objavljen 24.07.2005. u 16:08 sati.