Pubs open doors as terrorist blasts rock capital

Publicans took the lead and opened their doors to the thousands of people hit by the terror attacks in London last week.

As travel routes in the capital were closed as a result of the blasts, people attempted to hide from the horrific events by heading to pubs.

Lucy McIlmail is licensee of the Northumberland Arms in King's Cross, 250 yards from the station where a tube train was bombed. The pub handed out free tea and coffee all day to people who were stranded in the area as they sought a safe haven away from the station.

"All the pubs round here were full. People sat and watched it all unfold on TV. BBC Radio London was also reporting from the pub," she said.

Ms Ismail said pub staff were remaining vigilant after the attacks. "This is a one-bar pub and we would know any strangers, so it's easy to keep watch," she explained.

However, pubs in the Aldgate area were closed by the police on the day due to security concerns and others were unable to open because staff could not get to work.

Four bombs went off in Central London. The blasts occurred between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street tube stations; between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations; at Edgware Road tube station and on a bus in Tavistock Square. The death toll currently stands at 52, with 700 people injured.

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Publicans open doors to people hit by terror attacks (7 July 2005)