APPEAL FOR CALM: Members of the UK's Muslim community reacted with sorrow and anxiety to yesterday's explosions.
They were fearful that the same home-grown group of radicalised Britons were responsible. But a message posted on the website of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee warned people against rushing to conclusions.
"Let's not get carried away," it said.
"Remember - the Oklahoma Bomber", a reference to the massive explosion which was initially and wrongly attributed to Islamists.
Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of Britain, the leading moderate organisation which held talks with Tony Blair about seeking ways of defusing extremism in Muslim young people, said: "Today's attacks highlights the urgent need for all communities to help the police to catch those who are intent on causing such havoc in London. They must be caught before they harm more innocents."
A spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain reiterated its response to the July 7th bombs.
He said: "Our policy has been clear from the very first bomb this month. Anyone who is acting to create insecurity and cause harm to people should be hunted down. The country's security should be the utmost priority."
Massoud Shadjareh of the Islamic Human Rights Commission said: "It is very unclear what has happened but it is very worrying. It was bad enough what happened two weeks ago and we don't want any escalation."
Mr Shadjareh said reported hostile incidents had increased a great deal since 7/7.
A spokesman for the Islamic Society of Britain said: "We're all very shaken and we are hoping and praying it is not serious. Until we know what has really happened it is difficult to comment sensibly.
"But this is not going to make anything easier for our community which has already been under an intense spotlight."