Muslims express anger

The prayer area is full and kneeling men bow low as one and touch their heads to the carpet covering the ground.

"As citizens and co-workers of this great city -- London -- we share the concerns and fears of fellow Londoners," said imam Ashraf Salah, a day after four blasts killed at least 50 people on the subway network and a bus.

"We use the same transport and live and work in the same buildings and any attack is an attack on us all."

One of the blasts, at the Edgware Road underground rail station, took place just a few hundred metres from the mosque.

"We are sorry that this attack is attached to Muslims," he said. "Islam strongly condemns such a sinful act."

Across the country at midday, imams repeated the same prayer of condolence to the victims intended for the ears of Britain's estimated 1.6 million Muslims.

Despite the fears of a backlash, the head of London police commissioner Ian Blair reported no troubles.

"This is Friday and a day of prayers for Islam and there has been no events, no disturbances no difficulties near the London mosques and that is a great step forward," he told reporters.

Those who came to pray here condemned the attacks, which also injured some 700 people, with almost one voice.