Londoners head back to work

The London underground, closed after three separate explosions ripped through the network within minutes of each other, resumed partial service, although transport police said two of the lines hit by the blasts would remain closed all day. Buses were also running after the attacks that killed at least 37.

Police and rail staff stood guard in station entrances and along the web of passages that lead to the underground train platforms, offering a sense of security to commuters as they headed to work with the horror of Thursday's carnage -- which also injured hundreds -- still fresh in their minds.

The usual morning rush hour, however, failed to materialise with many people clearly electing to stay at home or to avoid public transport to get to the office.

"It's my first journey after the attacks. It's very good to get it over and done with," said Ian Hunt, a 48-year-old accountant who took an overground train to Liverpool Street, where at least seven people were killed the previous day, before transferring to the underground.

"It feels just like a Sunday though because there are so few people," Hunt told AFP as he emerged from Tottenham Court Road station -- usually a hive of commuter activity, but the crowds were much thinner than usual even at 8:00 am (0700 GMT).

The atmosphere at stations and on the underground trains was tense as passengers warily looked around themselves or buried their faces behind newspapers, emblazoned with shock headlines about the previous day's attacks.

Highlighting the tension, a sports bag left on the forecourt of Liverpool Street, a main London terminal on the edge of the financial district, sparked a brief scare after it was accidentally forgotten by its owner.

She sheepishly returned to claim it, apologising profusely to watching police, while some alarmed commuters shouted insults at her absent mindedness.

"I don't feel safe because of what happened," said Edyta Tziubi, a 25-year-old Polish assistant shop manager as she prepared to head for Paddington, on the western fringe of the city centre, from Liverpool Street station.