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London rocked by terror attacks - 56 die in London blasts
The blasts, which targetted the city's mass transit system, killed many people and injured over 700 with 40 stated to be in critical condition. There were three explosions on the Underground and one on a double-decker bus.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "reasonably clear" there had been a series of terrorist attacks. "We will not yield to these terrorists, we will find them, we will bring them to justice," he said.
He said it was "particularly barbaric" that it was timed to coincide with the G8 summit. He is returning to London.
An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.
US President George Bush told reporters at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles that "the war on terror goes on."
The Queen said she was "deeply shocked" and sent her sympathy to those affected.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the morning rush-hour blasts occurred
1.between Aldgate East and Liverpool Street tube stations;
2.between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations;
3.at Edgware Road tube station; and
4.on a double-decker bus at Tavistock Square.
Paul Woodrow, of the London Ambulance Service, is in Russell Square near the bus which exploded.
"At King's Cross station there is a rescue operation in the tunnel down on the line," he said.
"Although we cannot confirm casualties - it is too early - we are dealing with large numbers of casualties."
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick said the initial estimates were of 150 seriously injured and "many more" walking wounded.
He confirmed 33 people had died in the blasts on the Underground. He said it was not yet known how many died in the bus blast.
Mr Paddick confirmed police were looking into whether the bus blast was the work of a suicide bomber.
But, he added: "It could as easily be an explosive device left on the bus as the work of a suicide bomber. We are not able to determine which it was yet."
Ania Lichtarowicz, from BBC News, said a doctor who had been treating people in Tavistock Square said at least 10 people had died.
New Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said celebrations to mark the homecoming from Singapore of the successful London Olympic bid team have been cancelled.
Pope Benedict said the blasts were "barbaric acts against humanity" in a message to the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor.
Mobile phone services across London were jammed with all major networks reporting problems as people tried to contact relatives and friends. A spokeswoman for Vodafone said the emergency services were being given priority.
Some 208 casualties were taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, with 26 people admitted - 13 are in theatre and another three are in intensive care.
The city's St Mary's Hospital said it was dealing with 26 injured people, including four with critical injuries and eight in a serious condition.
London police chief Sir Ian Blair urged people to stay where they were and not to call emergency services unless it was a life-threatening situation.
He reassured the public that an emergency plan was in place and the situation was "steadily coming under control".
London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking from Singapore before flying back to the UK, said Londoners would not be divided by a "cowardly attack".
He said it was an "indiscriminate" attempt at slaughter with no consideration for age or religion.
Describing the bus blast in Tavistock Square, witness Belinda Seabrook said she saw an explosion rip through the vehicle.
"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double-decker bus was in the air," she said.
She said the bus had been travelling from Euston to Russell Square and was "packed" with people turned away from Tube stops.
"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus flying through the air." she said.
One caller to BBC Five Live said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines".
All London Underground services have been suspended indefinitely and bus services in central London (Zone One) have been halted.
The entire Tube network is still suspended and, as a precaution, the Docklands Light Railway in east London has also been shut.
London Underground said it does not know at this stage how long the network will be closed.
Police chief Sir Ian Blair said: "All of London's transport... is disabled. The safest thing anyone can do is stay where they are."
Millions face difficult journeys home and many have booked into hotels.
Transport operators hope to run a near normal service on the Tube on most lines on Friday.
The BBC has located an Islamist website that has published a 200-word statement issued by an organisation saying it carried out the London bombings.
The organisation calls itself the Secret Organisation Group of al-Qaeda [literally the base] of Jihad Organisation in Europe.
The group has not been previously heard of.
The website has previously carried statements purporting to be from al-Qaeda. It is not possible to verify such claims published on the web.
This is the full text of the statement.
In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him.
Nation of Islam and Arab nation: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahideen have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters.
We have repeatedly warned the British Government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahideen exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid.
We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused.
God says: "You who believe: If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly."
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