Apple Computer has closed its flagship store in central London for security reasons after a series of bomb blasts rocked the city Thursday, killing at least 33 people.

"For the security of our customers and employees, the Apple Store, Regent Street, will be closed for the rest of the day," said a brief statement on Apple's Regent Street store Web site. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by this morning�s events in central London."

When contacted by phone, a store manager told The Mac Observer the closing was "a precautionary measure" and that "a decision on opening the store Friday will be made later today."

Apple's Regent House store has become a popular computer retailer in the city since its opening on November 20, 2004. The store handles some 10,000 customers a day, according to sources, and is one of Apple's highest grossing stores in terms of revenue.

Four blasts ripped through London at morning rush hour Thursday, killing people, wounding at least 150 seriously and disrupting a meeting of Group of Eight leaders in Scotland in attacks Prime Minister Tony Blair called "barbaric."

Witnesses saw the top ripped off a double-decker bus near Russell Square close to King's Cross train terminal, and packed subway trains were hit in three more apparently coordinated blasts.

British interior minister Charles Clarke called the explosions "terrorist attacks," and President Bush, speaking at the G8 summit, told reporters that "the war on terror goes on. We will not yield to these terrorists, we will find them, we will bring them to justice."

A previously unknown group, "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe," claimed responsibility for the attacks.