The Department of State informs AILA that, thankfully, it is not aware of any U.S. Embassy casualties as a result of the London bombings. Regretfully, DOS adds that given the time of year and the number of tourists in London , it is probable that some private Americans have been hurt or killed. We are reminded that the Embassy's top priority is to assist these Americans; visa services are secondary at this point.

AILA has also learned unofficially that the consular office in Belfast does not have the capabilities of taking on London 's overflow or cancelled NIV appointments and that the Belfast NIV unit will be closed all next week as was previously scheduled.