Reluctant Londoners return to Underground
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 16:03

LONDON - Commuters in London reluctantly descended into the Underground Friday morning, attempting to return to routine in the aftermath of four rush-hour blasts that killed at least 37. Police promised to track down those behind the attacks, which officials said bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida.

Investigators said they would look for evidence in the debris from Thursday's attacks and in the video footage from some 1,800 cameras in London's train stations.

Commuters arrive at London's Liverpool Street subway station Friday, July 8, 2005. Police have confirmed that at least 37 people died in Thursday's terror attacks on the capital, and said there were 700 others injured. [AP]

"There is real passion now in the police to make arrests quickly before further attacks can be carried out," said Charles Shoebridge, a security analyst and former counterterrorism intelligence officer.

London's mass transit system reopened Friday, though some commuters, admitting they were afraid, opted for a taxi. Others said they had little choice but to return to the Underground.

"I was scared, but what can you do?" said Raj Varatharaj, 32, emerging from a subway station. "This is the fastest way for me to get to work. You just have to carry on."

British Home Secretary Charles Clarke on Friday said police hadn't ruled out the possibility that one or more of the blasts was a suicide attack. He told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that law enforcement's "total effort today is focused on identifying the perpetrators," acknowledging that London could be attacked again.

Thursday's blasts went off within 18 minutes at three subway stations, starting at 8:51 a.m. An explosion ripped the roof off a double-decker bus less than an hour later, attacks that came as world leaders were opening the G-8 summit in Scotland.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who just the day before had been basking in glory of Britain's successful Olympics bid, condemned the attacks and blamed Islamic extremists. Foreign Minister Jack Straw said the attacks bore the hallmark of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida, the group responsible for Sept. 11.

London police said they could confirm at least 37 people had been killed. But, citing conversations with British officials, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the toll was 50, and Australian Prime Minister John Howard put it at 52.

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