Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was in London During Bombings

Security remains tight at transportation hubs around New York City as residents react to the coordinated terror attacks that struck London early Wednesday morning.

Across the five boroughs, New Yorkers who lost friends and relatives in the 9/11 terror attacks are reliving many of the horrors of that day through the words and images being transmitted from across the Atlantic.

British officials say at least 37 people were killed and some 700 more were injured in what Prime Minister Tony Blair called "an apparent terrorist attack," but so far, British security forces have received no credible claims of responsibility.

"It's just heartbreaking these poor people have to suffer," said Staten Island's Jo Ann Meehan, who lost her daughter on 9/11. "Knowing what I went through, my heart breaks for them. I just wish that they have the strength to endure what they're going to have to endure."

The near-simultaneous explosions happened just before 9 a.m. London time, with at least three detonations in the Underground subway system in Central London and another aboard a double-decker bus. Police say they have found traces of explosives near some of the blasts.

Although the attacks caused major transportation disruptions in Central London, authorities say all flights are operating as scheduled into and out of Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports, including flights to and from New York City.

In New York, the NYPD has beefed up police presence on subways, buses, ferry terminals, river crossings, and in transit stations in response to the attack. Police officers are inspecting all subway trains, and there is increased K-9 patrols to help protect the nearly 4.5 million passengers who use New York's subways every day.

The NYPD also increased security drills below ground, hitting specific high-profile subway stops, including Bowling Green, with what they call a "surge," where they rapidly increase police presence to search an area.

"It's like a lot of things that we did during the RNC – the drills, the practices, even the covering of the stations are helpful in that regard," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "We responded ourselves to certain stations today, and we're familiar with it because we did it for the national convention."

Even with the increased security presence – or perhaps because of it -- transit officials said that ridership on the city's subways and buses remained at normal levels Thursday.

Motorists are also seeing tighter security at all bridges and tunnels. No trucks are being allowed on the Williamsburg Bridge, and officials are also setting up security checkpoints in Lower Manhattan.

In addition, NYPD harbor units and U.S. Coast Guard boats are escorting Staten Island Ferry boats. More patrols have also been posted at the Whitehall Street and the St. George Ferry Terminals, and helicopters and heavily armed NYPD Hercules teams have been deployed to patrol the skies.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who briefed reporters Thursday afternoon in Grand Central Station, says that the heavy police presence will remain at least through the Friday morning rush.

At the time of the attacks, Bloomberg was on his way back to New York City from Singapore, where the International Olympic Committee had just awarded the 2012 Olympic Games to London over four other cities, including New York.

Meanwhile, some New Yorkers wishing to express their condolences headed to the British Consulate in Midtown on Thursday but were turned away for security reasons. A few people tried to leave flowers in front of the building, but security guards removed them because they didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to the building.

No one from the consulate agreed to talk to NY1, but the station did speak to some people who came to pick up their visas. They say the attacks haven't changed their travel plans.

“As the saying says, the lion doesn’t strike twice in the same place,” said one man. “I do feel kind of shaky, though, just knowing the fact that it just happened right there.”

“It happens in every big city, but I’m not nervous about it. I’m more excited to say that I’ll be in London,” said another New Yorker.

Commissioner Kelly says there will be an increased police presence around the consulate building until further notice.

Edward Cardinal Egan, who is currently in Rome attending the annual meeting of the Council of Cardinals, sent a letter to his London counterpart expressing his sadness over the attacks.

The letter reads, in part: "The tragic crime committed against the people of London has shocked and grieved me deeply. Mindful of the suffering which the community of greater New York faced on September 11th, I wish to assure you of the prayers of the Archdiocese of New York."

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, in London for business, was having breakfast only a block away from the Liverpool station, where the first of four explosions occurred. Giuliani says living through another attack, as he did on 9/11, was an "eerie" experience.

“It seems a shame now that we're going to have yet another whole group of people who have to live with these terrible scars that these terrorists inflicted on them,” said Giuliani. “So there was a great feeling of empathy and sadness for the people of London."

The former mayor also says he was impressed with the resolve of the people and how the police and medical crews handled the situation.

Shortly after the London attacks, a group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility on an Islamic website, saying the blasts were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The authenticity of the message could not be immediately confirmed.

The statement also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark.

Was Giuliani in London for terror 'exercises'?

Rudolph Giuliani was in World Trade Center 7 on 9/11 for, as he testified before the 9/11 Commission, a FEMA terror 'exercise.' He went on the support the official story, earned his bones and was named Knight of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

So, what was he doing in London on 7-7?

Greg Nixon of 11InsideJobbers decided to find out. From a Jul 11, 2005 posting:

I spoke with Giuliani's press secretary to pose the following questions:

Giuliani Partners
5 Times Square
212-931-7300

Question: What was Rudolph Giuliani's stated purpose of the London visit?

- She would only say it was for "business."

Question: Was he a paid/ unpaid consultant or a crisis manager for Visor Consultants in regards to a terror drill for an unnamed company as cited by a BBC Radio 5 interview 7/7/05?

Could not comment. there was nervous awkward silence. She then stated again "it (trip) was for business and that's all the information I can give out" abruptly ended call.....

The President of Visor confirmed that the "exercise" involved simultaneous bombings on the London Underground.