Four bomb blasts tore through packed underground trains and a bus during London's rush hour today, killing at least 37 people and wounding up to 700 in the city's deadliest attack since the World War II.
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It is believed the fatality figure may yet rise as emergency services deal with the aftermath of the blasts, which started just before 9am.
Speaking at a press conference earlier, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Brian Paddick, said the first explosion happened at 8.51am in the Moorgate, Liverpool Street and Aldgate East underground stations. Seven people are known to have died in this explosion.
He said the explosion was in the tunnel 100 yards from Liverpool Street station on either the Circle or Central line.
The second explosion happened at 8.56am in the King's Cross, Russell Square area, leaving at least 21 people dead.
The third was at 9.17am when an explosion hit Edgware Road Underground station, killing seven people. The blast blew a hole in a train on an adjoining platform.
The fourth explosion happened at 9.47am on a bus in Tavistock Place. There have been two confirmed fatalities in the bus attack.
Mr Paddick said no warnings had been given and no claim had been received by police.
All public transport was shut down in the centre of the British capital, and troops have been deployed on the city's streets.
However, a group who claim to have links with al-Qaeda, said in an Internet statement earlier that it had carried out the attacks.
The unverified claim, made on the Al-Qal'ah - Fortress - Internet site said that "Britain is burning with fear".
British prime minister Tony Blair pledged this evening his country would not be intimidated by the attacks.
Mr Blair - who is hosting the three-day G8 summit meeting in Scotland - was forced to fly back to London earlier in the day.
In a televised statement recorded in Downing Street, Mr Blair promised intense police and security service action to bring the bombers to justice and he repeated his "profound condolences" to the families of the victims.
Medical staff stretcher a victim away from Russell Square underground station
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attacks bore all the hallmarks of the Islamic militant al-Qaeda network responsible for the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and the Madrid train bombings in 2004.
US President George W. Bush, speaking at the G8 summit, told reporters: "The war on terror goes on". "We will not yield to these terrorists, we will find them, we will bring them to justice," he said.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission warned London Muslims to stay at home to avoid any violence aimed at them.
Police have appealed to commuters to stagger their homeward journeys this evening in an effort to avoid major congestion.
The Taoiseach condemned the attacks in London today as "a black mark on society" and "wanton violence". The President, Mrs McAleese, sent a message of sympathy to Queen Elizabeth on behalf of the people of Ireland following the terrorist attacks in London this morning.
The emergency section at the Irish embassy in London is taking calls from UK residents, and a freephone number has been set up at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
Irish residents may phone 1800 242548for information. In Britain, the contact numbers are 0207 2012508or 0207 2012501.