THE leadership of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the London suicide bombings yesterday and threatened further terrorist atrocities unless Britain withdraws its troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-in-command to Osama bin Laden, said that Britain was paying the price for supporting the United States and that Tony Blair had brought “destruction in Central London”.

In a videotaped message, Zawahiri — who appeared with a Kalashnikov rifle by his side — said: “You shed rivers of blood in our land so we exploded volcanoes of anger in your land.” He chided the British for rejecting the “truce” offered by bin Laden in 2004 and broadened al-Qaeda’s agenda to demand that the West give up all political and economic interests in the Muslim world.

The appearance of a senior al-Qaeda figure glorifying the bombings, in which 52 travellers and four suicide bombers died, added to a sense of apprehension in London yesterday.

About 6,000 police, many armed, were on duty at Underground and railway stations across the capital to provide reassurance and deterrence.

Intelligence analysts are studying the video, which was passed to the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera, for clues to where and when it was made and whether it contains a coded signal for further attacks. In it, the Egyptian terrorist leader appeared healthy as he jabbed his finger at the camera.

Al-Qaeda chose a Thursday — the same day as the July 7 bombings and the aborted attacks of July 21 — for its propaganda strike.

The number of people travelling on the Underground during weekdays has fallen by 15 per cent since the 7/7 attacks. The BBC also reported a senior Transport for London manager as saying that weekend passenger numbers on the Tube were down by 30 per cent.

The concentration of attacks or threats on Thursdays has persuaded many Londoners to change their patterns of travel on that day. Many are choosing to cycle or walk to work, or asking to work from home.

Russell Square station, the scene of a harrowing rescue operation after July 7, reopened and a through service resumed on the Piccadilly Line for the first time since the attacks.

Trauma counsellors were on hand for passengers at Russell Square, a number of whom emerged distressed and crying after their journey.

Andy Trotter, Deputy Chief Constable of British Transport Police, said that London faced an unprecedented threat and remained on a high level of alert.

He said that security across the city’s transport network was being reviewed with a view to expanding CCTV coverage and possibly using body scanning equipment.

“People are anxious, there is no denying that. We will start to go back to normality but it will be a different kind of normality,” he said.

Mr Trotter expressed concern at a security briefing by the New York Police Department which revealed details of Scotland Yard’s investigation into the 7/7 attacks. “It’s unhelpful at the moment,” he said. The NYPD later apologised for the briefing to business leaders.

The first man charged in connection with the attacks appeared before Bow Street magistrates. Ismael Abdurahman, 23, was remanded in custody charged with withholding information about the whereabouts of Hussain Osman, a key suspect in the July 21 inquiry. He denies the charge. Two woman from Stockwell, South London were charged with a similar offence last night.

Mr Osman, 27, who was arrested in Rome, will appear before an Italian court on August 17.

Downing Street refused to comment on the Zawahiri video. President Bush said that the US would not be deterred in fighting the War on Terror.

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