Suspect denies al-Qaeda link

2005-07-31 11:02

Rome - One of the suspects in London's botched July 21 bombings who was arrested Friday in Rome has denied having links with terror group al-Qaeda, the Italian news agendy Ansa reported quoting records of the interrogation.

"I have no connection with al-Qaeda," Osman Hussain -- also known as Issac Hamdi - told Italian magistrates after his arrest.

"I joined a muscle-building class in Notting Hill and I was told we had to act to avenge our people who had been arrested, thrown into prison after the July 7 bombings," the Ethiopian-born naturalised Briton was quoted as saying.

"A signal had to be given and we did it, but we did not intent to kill anybody. It was just a gesture," he declared, adding that he had no links with the four July 7 suicide bombers, three of whom were of Pakistani origin.

Ansa said investigators did not believe Hussain had acted due to religious fervour, but rather had sought to imitate the actions of two weeks earlier that resulted in 56 deaths including the four bombers.

The suspect also told the magistrates about how his dud homemade bomb had been put together.

Didn't go as planned

"We used fertilisers, acid, but something didn't go as planned and I hurt my leg because of the acid which leaked out as it was being carried," he said, showing the magistrates the wound, Ansa reported.

Hussain said he wanted to stay in Italy and did not wish to be extradited to Britain.

Italian justice ministry sources said supporting documentation required for extradition in the case of suspects held under the new European arrest warrant is expected from British police on Monday.

The new arrest warrant, ratified by the Italian parliament in April, has streamlined extradition procedures between European Union states and could mean the alleged fourth bomber in the failed July 21 attacks could be handed over within days.

If the subject of the warrant refuses extradition the country where he or she is held has 60 days, extendable by a further 30, to make a decision.

- AFP