Two 7 July suicide bombers spent time at an al-Qaeda training camp before their attacks on London, the group's deputy leader has claimed in a video.
Ayman al-Zawahiri said Shezad Tanweer and Mohammad Sidique Khan visited the camp to seek "martyrdom".
The claims were made in a longer version of the same video featuring Tanweer that was released by al-Jazeera television on 6 July.
In it Tanweer explained his motivations for carrying out the attacks.
In the video, which has appeared in full on an Islamic website but has not been fully authenticated, al-Zawahiri claimed both men wished to carry out a martydom operation.
"They both were very insistent upon that, and if the brothers discussed something else, they would pay them no heed, because the goal for which they came to the bases of Qaeda al-Jihad was the carrying out of a martyrdom operation."
'Only the beginning'
Tanweer, from Leeds, killed seven people on a train at Aldgate during the attacks on 7 July 2005, and Khan, 30, thought to be the leader of the group, killed six on a Circle Line train near Edgware Road.
Speaking on the video in a Yorkshire accent Tanweer said: "For the non-Muslims in Britain, you may wonder what you have done to deserve this.
"You are those who have voted in your government who in turn have and still continue to this day continue to oppress our mothers and children, brothers and sisters from the east to the west in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya.
"Your government has openly supported the genocide of more than 150,000 innocent Muslims in Fallujah."
"What you have witnessed now is only the beginning of a string of attacks that will continue and become stronger."
He continues: "We are 100% committed to the cause of Islam. We love death the way you love life."
Tanweer added the attacks will continue "until you pull your forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq".
The video, the release of which was announced on an Islamist website, also includes a statement from American Adam Gadahn, also known as Azzam al-Amriki.
Gadahn is believed by US authorities to be running al-Qaeda's propaganda operation.
Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman said the video would form part of their investigation.
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