Four blasts hit London's bus and Tube network on Thursday morning. Some blasts were caused by suicide bombers. At least 37 people were killed, official reports said. The death toll was expected to rise.
The entire Tube network has been shut down following the blasts at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square.
One witness said the packed underground train he was on was 200 metres from King's Cross when there was a huge flash.
Minutes after the blasts on London's Underground, an explosion has "ripped a bus apart". A witness said she saw an explosion rip though a bus as it approached Russell Square. Police confirmed an explosion destroyed a double-decker bus at Russell Square. Later, police said there were explosions on two other buses.
"There have been a number of dreadful incidents across London today," said Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Britain's top law enforcement officer. He said there were "terrible injuries."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, issued a joint statement from all the leaders at the G8 summit. "This is not an attack on one nation - it's an attack on all nations and civilised people everywhere," he said.
"It's important however that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people."
A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaeda in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts in London, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The statement, which also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark, was published on a Web site popular with Islamists. "Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan," said the statement.
In its statement, the group said "the heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west." "We warned the British government and the British people repeatedly. We have carried out our promise and carried out a military attack in Britain after great efforts by the heroic mujahedeen over a long period to ensure its success."
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
