London fights to regain footing

LONDON - As Londoners reluctantly descended into the Underground subway system on Friday, the police announced the death toll from the rush-hour blasts had risen to more than 50.

Commission Sir Ian Blair said 100 victims from the bombings Thursday were hospitalized overnight, and 22 remain in critical condition.

Each explosive device was 10 pounds or less, Blair said.

Earlier, Britain's top law enforcement official warned that the bombers, whose attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida, could strike again.

"We have to have ... maximum consideration of the risk of another attack, and that's why our total effort today is focused on identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice," Home Secretary Charles Clarke told British Broadcasting Corp. radio early Friday morning.

"That is of course the No. 1 preoccupation that the police and security services have at this moment," he said.

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.

“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.”

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.

Hallmark of al-Qaida
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 the attacks were in the style of al-Qaida; the group responsible for Sept. 11.

Ten of London’s 12 subway lines reopened Friday, though service on three was restricted. Bus service was running through central London, except for diversions around blast sites.

Aldona Mosjko, a 21-year-old bagel shop manager from Poland, was among those too frightened to take public transportation Friday. “Normally, I take the bus, but today, I took a taxi. I was a bit afraid,” she said.

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