European countries on Thursday condemned terrorist attacks on London and vowed to strengthen security in their own transport systems.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in Gleneagles, Britain for the Group of Eight (G8) summit, condemned the deadly blasts at London's public transport system as "an enormous crime," saying the world is doing too little to achieve unity in fighting terrorism.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who described the explosions in London as "a world-scale tragedy," urged joint efforts worldwide in fighting terror.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Thursday sharply condemned the terrorist blasts in central London "that have cost the lives and health of many innocent people."
"My deepest sympathies go to the people hit by these blasts, their families, Prime Minister Tony Blair and the whole British people," Schroeder said in a written statement released by his office in Berlin.
Schroeder said the terrorist attacks were aimed at undermining the G8 summit at Gleneagles. He welcomed Blair's resolve to continue the summit which was scheduled to address issues such as aid to Africa and global climate change.
Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini has expressed Italy's support for Britain and its outrage over the explosions in London.
In a message to his British counterpart, Jack Straw, Fini said the "barbaric terrorist attacks" had left Italians "shaken and outraged."
"I would like to express my personal solidarity, together with that of the Italian government and people," said Fini, who is also Italian deputy prime minister.
Fini extended his "heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims."
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Pasquale Terracciano said that at least two Italians had been slightly injured in the explosions.
Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates condemned the blasts in London.
Portugal is prepared to cooperate with Britain "in any way it needs," Socrates said, adding that "democracy cannot give way to terrorism."
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, who is in Chile for an official visit, also conveyed his sympathies to Queen Elizabeth II and Blair, saying that the attacks were "despicable acts."
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt on Thursday condemned the London blasts as cowardly attacks on defenseless civilians.
Speaking in the Belgian Parliament, Verhofstadt said Thursday morning's attacks prove that the war on terror must continue and be intensified.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, President Karolos Papoulias, Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki and other political leaders condemned the attacks in London.
"It was with sorrow and repulsion that I was informed of today' s terrorist attacks in London. On the part of the government and the Greek people, I would like to express my deepest condolences," said the prime minister in a message to Blair.
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski told Blair in a message that Poland will try its best to help Britain to arrest the attackers.
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos also strongly condemned the attacks.
"The government and people of Cyprus strongly condemn such horrendous acts of terror and stand in full solidarity with the British people and the rest of the international community in the fight against terrorism of all kinds," said Papadopoulos in a message to Blair.
While European leaders conveyed their condolences and support to Britons, security is being tightened at airports and railway stations across Europe to ward off possible attacks.
Hours after the attacks, Belgian authorities met to discuss security measures in Brussels, also home to a number of EU institutions and NATO, according to the BBC.
The Belgian government declared later that there was no evidence Belgium was at a higher risk, but extra security precautions would be taken on trains and subway stations and at border checkpoints, airports and seaports.
Spain, the target of terror attacks which killed 191 people in Madrid on March 11 last year, raised its security vigilance to the highest level.
This level of alert involves the mobilization of the security forces to keep watch and protect places with large amounts of people as well as strategic sites needed for normal citizen activity, the Interior Ministry said.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin also raised France' s security alert to red -- the second-highest level of vigilance.
Security is especially tight for rail passengers traveling between Paris and London. Eurostar trains are still running but the company has advised people not to travel to London.
Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu told the Senate: "The level of alert has been raised in Italy as in all the other European countries."
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said security would be stepped up at the Dutch borders and around British sites in the Netherlands.
Police patrols have been beefed up at the Moscow subway and baggage and passenger checks have become more rigorous at airports. Passport and migration controls have been tightened and road police posts reinforced.
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania are also said to have raised their security alert levels.