LONDON, 26 July 2005 — In another day of dramatic developments, Scotland Yard yesterday revealed the names of two of the suspected failed suicide bombers who tried to explode four devices on London’s transport system last Thursday.
Police named 27-year-old Mukhtar Said Ibrahim, also known as Mukhtar Hasan Mohammed, and 24-year-old Yasin Hasan Omar as two of the suspects who appeared on CCTV images, now posted all over London. They are wanted for questioning, as police once again appealed to the public, especially the Muslim community and the relatives of the suspects, to come forward with any information about their whereabouts or movements.
UK Muslim leaders such as Sir Iqbal Sacranie of the Muslim Council of Britain and Azzam Tamimi of the Muslim Association of Britain rallied to the call, saying it was a religious duty of all Muslims to bring the four failed bombers to justice, even if it meant incriminating a close relative.
“We realize the police are in a race against time to find these men, who are intent on causing carnage,” explained Sir Iqbal. “It is in all our interest, Muslim and non-Muslim, for them to be apprehended as soon as possible.”
Police now believe the four suspects who appeared on the station CCTV include one Asian (Mukhtar Said Ibrahim) who planted the bomb on the No 26 bus on the Hackney Road; two of Somali origin; and the fourth also of African descent, but of unidentified nationality. Information found at a house associated with Mukhtar Said Ibrahim helped identify the two suspects.
Police in fact yesterday arrested another two people in New Southgate in North London under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, bringing to five the number of people held under the act since Friday and linked to the July 21 failed bombing attacks.
The discovery of a fifth bomb in Wormwoods Scrubs in West London has also increased speculation that there is a another bomber on the loose. The device, according to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the anti-terrorist branch at Scotland Yard, was similar to the other four using the same home-made explosives and packed in the same type of plastic food storage container. Police even confirmed that the container were manufactured in India and imported by one company in the UK and distributed to about 100 outlets here. All five devices were carried in dark rucksacks or bags.
Meanwhile, an inquest into the fatal shooting by plainclothes police of 27-year-old Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes on Friday opened yesterday. The coroner heard that de Menezes was shot eight times, contrary to earlier reports of five shots.
The investigation has been handed over to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, whose spokesman Nick Hardwick stressed that the investigation into the incident is under way and would be thoroughly conducted. “If it was established that the officers had not acted according to the laws and their training, then they have to accountable for that,” he added.
Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday apologized to the family of de Menezes.
“We are deeply sorry for the death of an innocent person,” he declared. “I understand the feeling of the young man’s family. But while expressing our sorrow and deep sympathy for the death, we must support them in doing their job they have to do to protect this country.”
