Egypt clears 7/7 suspect
2005-07-19 18:04
Cairo - An Egyptian biochemist arrested in Cairo on suspicion of involvement in the July 7 London bombings was cleared on Tuesday, Egyptian security sources told AFP.
"The investigation of Magdy Nashar concluded in a definite fashion that he had no role in the London bombings," the sources said.
"The British authorities confirmed it after information was exchanged with Egypt."
The source said Nashar would be freed "within days but details need to be completed first. He still has a warrant against him," without elaborating further.
The 33-year-old Egyptian biochemist who lives in England, returned to Egypt four days before the quadruple bombings that left at least 56 people dead and was arrested last week in Cairo.
British authorities said they found signs in Nashar's home in the northern city of Leeds that quantities of a compound called TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, had been converted into a powerful explosive.
Egyptian newspapers had also quoted security officials as saying that Nashar had admitted he had rented his flat in the Leeds area to one of the four suicide bombers.
An Egyptian security source had said Scotland Yard investigators had arrived in Cairo to probe the case, but no information has filtered out on the part played by British police in the inquiry.
Following his arrest, the Egyptian authorities were swift to deny Nashar had any links with the al-Qaeda network, which London suspects was responsible for the devastating bombings.