Sky morning news anchorman Martin Brooker was the first to break the news.
“We’re going to the weather now? No, not the weather. Okay as I have said a moment ago we have breaking news here on Sky. News reports are coming through of an explosion in central London. Possibly two explosions. The first occurred shortly before nine am at St Thomas’ Hospital. That’s the acute medical hospital in Lambeth that stands on the Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament, an imposing landmark over the river there. Witnesses say a large explosion shook the hospital and blew out windows and doors. Sky news reporter James Marshall is at the scene as Sky is first to bring you this breaking news. James Marshall.”
James Marshall stood on Westminster Bridge in the shadow of Big Ben, he spoke to camera. Behind him the wide bridge was closed and cordoned off by police tape. Two Police Officers stood in front of a marked police car blocking the road. Another two officers, armed with semi-automatic weapons, added gravitas to the scene. Behind James Marshall flames and black smoke billowed up and around St Thomas’ Hospital. The sound of emergency service sirens and shouting emergency personnel provided a constant backdrop to his report.
“Thank you Martin. I am on Westminster Bridge and as you can see behind me huge clouds of black smoke and flames surround St Thomas’ Hospital this morning. Sky news has been told a large explosion occurred at about eight fifty five this morning. As we understand the seat of that explosion was in the basement area of the hospital. It shook the building and the blast blew out doors and windows. Traffic is at a standstill and the emergency services are on the scene tackling the blaze and assisting the emergency evacuation of the hospital. If my camera man can zoom in.”
The camera zoomed past the shoulder of James Marshall to provide a close up image of Fire Engines, Police vehicles and Ambulances. Several fire tenders had ladders extended stretching up to the windows on the higher floors of the hospital. Fire personnel on the ladders guided fire hoses with high pressure jets of water dousing the burning building. A small number of people were being rescued through windows and slowly and carefully guided to safety down the long ladders by fire crew.
James Marshall narrated further for Sky viewers, “As you can see dramatic scenes, the fire is not under control and continues to burn fiercely. I understand fire crews are having difficulty getting to the heart of the fire in the concealed basement below the hospital. And dramatic images of rescues taking place live here on sky news. Evacuation through the ground floor has been hampered by acrid smoke, which we know can kill with just a few short inhalations so some patients and staff are being rescued through upper floor windows.”
Martin Brooker, “Any suggestion of casualties James?”
James Marshall, “It is probably too early to tell, no official reports as yet but witnesses close to the scene are indicating that there have been fatalities.”
Martin Brooker, “Dreadful news James, let us hope the fire is brought under control soon. Any ideas as to the cause of this massive explosion?”
James Marshall, “Only speculation at this stage. The basement is a storage area and also a research facility, it will house chemicals, medical equipment but how an explosion occurred we do not yet know.”
Back in the studio the continuous news coverage on the large screen, to the side of Martin Brooker, showed three patients in dressing gowns and night clothes stepping off the bottom of a ladder, wrapped in blankets and then being taken to safety by fire officers and ambulance crew. The camera panned upwards and found its focus on more people being rescued.
James Marshall spoke to his news anchor colleague over the images on the screen in the studio, “Extraordinary scenes Martin, as you can see two, possibly three patients being helped to safety down an extended ladder. Carefully being guided down the precarious steps under the supervision of fire crews. Ambulances are waiting to provide whatever treatment the patients might need and to take them to nearby hospitals.”
Martin Brooker, “Do we have any further information on the reports of a second explosion?”
James Marshall, “Witnesses on the scene reported a second much smaller explosion further down the Thames close to or inside the County Hall.”
Martin Brooker, “Does this second explosion lead the police to believe we are dealing with an act of terrorism here?”
James Marshall, “The police are not being drawn on that question at this stage, for obvious reasons, but they have locked down the area and anti-terrorist officers have been mobilised and deployed at the scene and around other parts of the capital as I understand it.”