21 July 2005
Today's incidents in London

We will be updating this website as new information comes available

15.00 Emergency services are responding to potential terrorist incidents at Warren Street and Oval Underground stations and on a no.26 bus. The Met Police have said that this is a serious incident, but it has not been classified as a major incident. The COBRA committee has been convened.

It appears that the major business continuity disruption related to this incident will involve:
* Staff transportation - much of the Tube network is shut down or severely disrupted and many roads in the area area are closed or very busy. Most mainline train services are currently operating as usual.
* Denial of access - fairly wide exclusion zones have been implemented resulting in some businesses being evacuated.

16.00 Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has stated that the situation is now fully under control. Four attempts were made this afternoon to explode devices in London. All involved conventional explosives, with no sign of chemical or biological agents. It is now time for London to return to business-as-usual again.

BCI advice:
Everyone is advised to remain vigilant - ALERT but not ALARMED. It is the responsibility of every individual to report suspicious activity accurately and immediately.

Clear communications are key - if you don't say it (and issue it in writing), someone else will fill the void with rumour, assumption and speculation.

There will be disruption to public transport but this in itself may well not be reason for invoking BC and DR plans since the disruption is likely to be short term and contained to certain areas.

Organisations have been interrupted due to cordons and their BC plans will have to cope with denial of access issues.

Be mindful of the human aspects of fear and distress which can create emotional responses such as anger, guilt, shame and blame and can fuel over-reaction and 'phobias'.

There is often opportunity in crisis for reassurance, improved performance, inspiring confidence, good branding and customer service.

Information and communications survey
18th July 2005

BCI and Link Associates are conducting a joint survey into the business continuity response to the London bombings on 7th July.

To take part, please print the survey form and then post to LINK Associates International, Trent House, RTC Business Park, London Road, Derby DE24 8UP United Kingdon or fax to + 44(0) 1332 22229.

BCI North of England Group collates lessons learned and issued raised by the July 7th attacks
18th July 2005 Go there (members only)

BCI supports ICE campaign
15th July 2005

Following Thursday 7 July's terrorist attacks in London, the East Anglian Ambulance Service launched a national ICE campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award. The BCI is pleased to add its support to the campaign.

ICE is a very simple idea that enables hospital staff and first responders to quickly get in touch with a person's emergency contacts. The word ICE is added to the mobile phone address book, and against it the name and number of the person who should be contacted in an emergency situation is entered. To store more than one contact name, the word ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 and so on is stored.

Business continuity managers may wish to consider encouraging staff to enter an organisational contact number as an ICE number within their mobile phones.