LONDON, July 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Four blasts ripped through London during rush hour on Thursday, July 7, killing at least 33 people and wounding hundreds, police said, adding that a reported claim of responsibility by Al-Qaeda could not be immediately verified.

Brian Paddick, deputy assistant commissioner of London police, said seven people were killed on an underground train near Moorgate station, 21 were confirmed dead near Liverpool Street subway station and five died at Edgware Road, reported Reuters.

"We are treating this as a terrorist incident," he told reporters, adding that the authorities were not "surprised by what has happened."

Paddick denied, however, that police had received any warning prior to the attacks.

The "information I have is there was no intelligence in our possession of these attacks," he said. "We were given no warning by any organization that this was going to happen."

People were seen streaming out of underground stations covered with blood and soot.

Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from stations across the capital, many in shock and with their clothes ripped to shreds, witnesses said.

The city's streets rapidly emptied and financial markets plummeted as it became increasingly apparent that the blasts were an attack, and not a power surge on the underground train system as had first been reported.

The attacks, which came just a day after a jubilant London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games, recalled the 2004 train bombings in Madrid and left Londoners in shock.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking in Singapore, suggested suicide bombers may have been involved.

"I wish to speak to you directly -- to those who came to London today to take lives," he said. "I know that you personally do not fear to give your own life in exchange for taking others, which is why you are so dangerous."

Paddick, however, said it was too early to say whether suicide bombers were involved in the attacks.

"We are keeping an open mind as to who the perpetrators might be. We have received no claim in terms of who was responsible and so at this time we wouldn't speculate."

A previously unknown group, "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe", has claimed responsibility for the explosions.

One security expert said the blasts bore all the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda, and appeared to target the G8 summit.

"We would put Al-Qaeda at the top of the list of any suspects," said Alex Standish, editor of Jane's Intelligence Digest.

"They have the motives, the means and the opportunity.

"Here you have a massive headline event which involves the three world leaders that Al Qaeda detests -- Bush, Blair and Putin."

The Muslim minority in Britain vehemently denounced the blasts and offered all possible assistance in helping the emergency services.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission warned London Muslims to stay at home to avoid any violence aimed at them.