avert

avert : v. prevent, avoid; turn away
apparently : adv. evidently, obviously; allegedly, seemingly

LONDON has been struck by a virtually identical repeat of the July 7 attacks as three subway trains and a bus were targeted with bombs, but this time carnage was averted as the devices apparently failed to explode.The British capital was plunged into confusion for the second time in a fortnight following the four bomb blasts or attempted blasts inside an hour, sending terrified commuters fleeing from London Underground stations.

In a mirror image of the attacks two weeks ago in which at least 56 people died, there were three almost simultaneous incidents on subway trains followed an hour later by an explosion on a bus, taking place at four points around London.

A man who was arrested near Downing St, residence of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is being held in connection with the attacks. A second man who was arrested has been released without charge, according to the Associated Press.

Unconfirmed reports say four "viable" explosive devices in rucksacks have been found at the scenes of the attacks.

Two men were arrested in the city shortly after the attacks but police said they were not being held under anti-terrorist laws. Earlier, Metropolitan Police commissioner Ian Blair said the two arrests were "entirely unconnected events" to the attacks.

Rather than the carnage of a fortnight before, the latest blasts had minimal power, with police eventually saying that not a single injury had been caused.
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[ Terror strikes in London again ]