Blair Returns To G-8 After London Bombings

GLENEAGLES, Scotland -- Britain's prime minister is ending the day where he began it -- at the G-8 summit in Scotland -- after traveling to London to deal with the aftermath of a deadly terrorist attack.

Tony Blair left the summit Thursday morning after learning of the bombings that killed more than three dozen people and injured hundreds of others on subways and a bus. While in London, he was briefed by a cabinet committee and visited the headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police, which coordinated the response to the attacks.

Inside The G-8 Summit

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Full Coverage: London Explosions
Slideshow: Aftermath Of Explosions
Video: Blair Says Attackers Will 'Never Succeed'

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Blair also delivered a statement promising an intense police hunt for those responsible. And he said he knew that most Muslims around the world "deplore this act of terrorism."

An aide said Blair then returned by helicopter to the Scottish resort where he'd been taking part in discussions with leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

British officials said the G-8 declarations on climate change and the global economy have been postponed until Friday because of Blair's absence, but that the summit would continue despite the London bombings. Both declarations had been expected on Thursday.

Before leaving Scotland, Blair said, "It's reasonably clear that there have been a series of terrorist attacks in London. There are obviously casualties, both people that have died and people seriously injured. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

Blair said President George W. Bush and leaders of the other G-8 nations would continue their talks without him.

"Each of the countries around that table have some experience of the effects of terrorism and share our complete resolution to defeat this terrorism," Blair said. "It's particularly barbaric that this has happened on the day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa and the long-term problems of changes in the environment."

"It's reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G-8. There will be time to talk later about this. It's important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world," Blair said. "Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world."

Bush echoed Blair's comments, saying the contrast between a summit aimed at easing poverty and terrorists killing innocents is "incredibly vivid." Bush said he was "most impressed" by the resolve of the summit leaders -- in his words -- not to "yield to these people."