All London tube stations to open month after attacks

LONDON - All stations on the London Underground will be open for service on Thursday for the first time since 52 commuters died in attacks four weeks ago.

A normal service will return to the Piccadilly line, the site of the deadliest attack where 27 people died on July 7.

"The return of the Piccadilly line is a major step as the Underground and London gets back to normal," London Underground managing director Tim O'Toole said.

Bombs on three Underground lines and one bus killed 52 people and the four suspected bombers on July 7. A second attempt to attack the city on July 21 failed.

Police have warned that the threat of further attacks remains "very real".

But even though police believe they have all four suspects wanted over the July 21 incidents in custody, and more than 1000 police officers are working on the investigation, Londoners remain jittery.

Panicked passengers fled from a double-decker bus in central London on Tuesday after a small fire developed amid fears of another attack. Police briefly sealed off part of the city after smoke was seen billowing from the bus, but lifted the alert after nothing alarming was found.

On the Underground, the Circle line is the only service still suspended, but all stations on this line are served by other trains.

Transport for London says it will announce shortly when the Circle line is expected to return to full service.

- REUTERS