Anwohner meinten, Flugzeuggeräusche vor der Explosion gehört zu haben. Die Polizei bestritt einen Flugzeugabsturz über dem Treibstoff-Depot der Ölkonzerne TOTAL und TEXACO in Buncefield, nördlich von London.
Von diesem Lager aus werden „Benzin und andere Treibstoffe“, so berichtet REUTERS, „für einen großen Teil von Südost-England verteilt“.
Hier eine Meldung in English von www.scotsman.com/AP
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11th December 2005Latest News
Two ’serious‘ after depot blasts
Two people were seriously injured when massive explosions ripped through an oil terminal.
They were among 36 casualties following a series of blasts which rocked the Buncefield depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, police said.
The force of the blasts could be heard up to 40 miles away as flames shot more than 200ft into the sky.
A police spokesman said: „Of the 36 injured, 34 are suffering from minor cuts and bruises. One patient has been taken to Watford Hospital for respiratory support and a second is under observation at Hemel Hempstead Hospital.“ There are no critical injuries, she added.
Despite residents reporting they heard the sound of a plane overhead before the explosions, Hertfordshire Police Chief Constable Frank Whiteley told a news conference they are treating the incident as an accident.
The first blast happened just after 6am at the fuel terminal in Leverstock Green, Herts, close to junction 8 of the M1. The depot – which holds huge stocks of various fuels – also supplies aviation fuel for Heathrow and Luton airports.
„We cannot be 100% sure of the cause at this stage because we are still interviewing witnesses. But there is nothing to suggest anything other than an accident. Things are developing all the time. But there has been no increase in casualty numbers.“
He said firefighters were hopeful that there would be no more explosions, adding: „This fire could burn for some days but it should not now spread outside the site.“
Mr Whiteley said Hertfordshire Police had begun a major investigation which was being headed by Detective Superintendent Ken Bell. Police from neighbouring forces in London, Essex and Bedfordshire had been drafted in to help with the situation.
He said officers had also been in contact with anti-terrorist officers who were carrying out investigations as part of the inquiry. He said other fuel terminals and refineries around the UK were also aware of what had happened and Government officials and police were making necessary security checks at other fuel terminals.
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