Explosion at St Pancras Chambers
Metropolitan Police Order Mass Evacuations
Loud explosion at St Pancras Chambers triggers mass evacuations by police.
There was a tense atmosphere in the air as police ushered people towards safety, following a loud explosion at the St Pancras Chambers building, adjacent to St Pancras Station, around midday on Monday 23 July 2007. The explosion triggered the evacuation of several buildings within the vicinity, including the British Library.
Eyewitness Dr. Spence-Lewis described the scene: “I heard a loud blast and saw smoke coming out of the building”
Later investigations revealed that the source of the explosion and subsequent fire related to a burst cylinder and was not linked to third party or terrorist activity. This incident revealed a glimpse of the strategic plans put in place by the Metropolitan Police to protect Londoners.
The police response was swift and uncompromising as helicopters hovered above, armed officers took their positions and police cars surrounded St Pancras Chambers with the fire brigade in support.
A Timely Reminder
The scenes at St Pancras were reminiscent of the aftermath of the 7July 2005 (7/7) London bombings and served to remind Londoners of the need to remain vigilant. The City remains a potential target for terrorist attacks, partly as result of its cultural dynamics and UK foreign policy.
London has been the beneficiary of great fortune on several occasions when terrorist attempts to harm its population failed. The most recent occasions include the fortunate discovery of two vehicles packed with explosives that failed to detonate on 29 June 2007 and the related attack on Glasgow Airport on 30 June 2007.
Further Efforts to Protect the Public
The prevention of terrorist attacks is a far more desirable endeavour than any response to such an incident, no matter how well executed. The Metropolitan Police understand this and have sought to exploit the use of cultural diplomacy as a valuable instrument in the fight against terrorism.
The police have launched a number of initiatives to promote dialog, mutal understanding and greater cohesion between Muslim communities and the wider population of the UK. They include the establishment of a Metropolitan Police Diversity Directorate and appointment of Commander Richard Gargini, the first full-time National Co-ordinator for Community Engagement (NCCE ), to lead their work on cultural diplomacy.
These efforts have been focused on Muslim communities because the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in the UK since 7/7 have shared an adherence to a tacit understanding of the Muslim faith.
This strategy of cultural diplomacy seeks to encourage Muslim leaders to step forward and demonstrate their opposition to terrorism; by informing adherents against a culture of senseless violence that cannot distinguish between the various faiths of its victims.
The success of this exercise in cultural diplomacy may well hold the key towards ending the cycle of terrorist attacks on the UK.
Source: eye witness account.
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