Britain sees hallmarks of al Qaeda in attacks
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 09:01

Police urged commuters to stay at home to avoid chaos in London on Friday after at least 37 people were killed in bomb attacks which Britain said bore the hallmarks of the Islamic militant al Qaeda network.

Seven hundred people were also wounded when three explosions tore through crowded London underground trains in one hour on Thursday and another ripped the roof off a double-decker bus.

The coordinated rush-hour attacks began as the Group of Eight rich countries held a summit in Gleneagles in Scotland and were the deadliest in the British capital in peacetime.

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy quoted the British government as saying 50 people had been killed. But this death toll was not confirmed and police said it was too early to say whether suicide bombers had been involved.

Police said they had received no warning but that it had always been a matter of time before London was hit. Britain backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and London had been on high alert since al Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

A previously unknown group, "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe," claimed responsibility but British and U.S. officials said it was not clear whether the group was genuine.

"It has the hallmarks of an al Qaeda-related attack," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said at the G8 summit.

"We know that these people act in the name of Islam," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, but declined to speculate who was behind the attacks.

The carnage caused chaos and halted much of London's transport network, leaving many commuters stranded or facing a long walk to the city outskirts to catch mainline trains home.

Police advised commuters to consider whether they needed to go to work on Friday, saying: "If people think they may have a problem getting to work they should give serious consideration whether or not to come in."

The Islamic Human Rights Commission warned London Muslims to stay at home. The Muslim Council of Britain, which represents 1.6 million Muslims, called for prayers for the victims.

PEOPLE RAN FOR THEIR LIVES

The scenes of shocked and bloodied commuters were in stark contrast to the jubilant crowds who took to the streets on Wednesday after London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games.

Police said seven people were killed on an underground train near Liverpool Street, 21 were confirmed dead in another near King's Cross and seven died at Edgware Road. At least two passengers on the bus were killed.

"Everyone was running for their lives crying out. Blood was everywhere," said Ayobami Bello at the scene of the bus blast.

"After Sept. 11 everyone was scared that this would happen here. But with time, you forget. This shows we're not safe here. It can happen anytime," said commuter Janet Biggs.

Britain is the closest ally of the United States in Iraq, where al Qaeda is waging a bloody insurgency.

Spain withdrew troops from Iraq after the Madrid bombings last year which killed 191 people when 10 simultaneous bombs tore through four commuter trains.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said at the G8 summit his country had no plans to withdraw its forces from Iraq. Italy and Denmark did not respond to a warning by the "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe" to withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Italy's interior minister said all Europe was on alert. The United States raised its terrorism threat level to "high" and France drafted in extra troops to tighten security.

Security analysts said it was far too early to apportion blame to the intelligence community over the attacks, which some suspected was the work of a small, autonomous group of local militants inspired by al Qaeda.

But Britain's Guardian newspaper said intelligence chiefs had reduced the threat level from al Qaeda only last month.

Financial markets initially fell sharply after the blasts. Oil prices fell by more than 5 percent before recovering and London stocks closed around 2 percent lower. Sterling sank to a 19-month low against the dollar and stayed there.