The suicide bomb plot hatched in Yorkshire
By Jason Bennetto and Ian Herbert
Published: 13 July 2005
The terrorists responsible for the Tube and bus attacks in London have been revealed as home-grown suicide bombers.
The young British men, all thought to be of Pakistani origin, are believed to have blown themselves up with rucksack bombs on Thursday morning last week, killing at least 52 people.
Senior security sources warned last night that the suspected al-Qa'ida planners - bomb-makers and organisers - are still at large and further suicide bombings are likely.
The four men, including one teenager, all come from the Leeds area of West Yorkshire They were not considered to be Islamic extremists and were not suspected of any significant links with terrorism.
The realisation that so-called British "clean skins" are prepared to carry out suicide attacks has transformed the way this country will have to view security. "What we considered normal has changed for ever," said a senior security source.
It is almost impossible to guard against a suicide attack and security measures at all public places will have to be rethought. Tough new security laws are also expected to be introduced to try to combat the threat.
Anti-terrorist officers raided houses in Leeds and Dewsbury where they found a bomb factory belonging to one of the terrorists. Explosive were also found in a car at Luton railway station, which is thought to have been used by the bombers to drive from Leeds on Thursday.
The bodies of three of the terrorists responsible for the forst suicide bombing in western Europe have been identified, while a fourth is thought to be among the remains in the wreckage on the Piccadilly line between King's Cross and Russell Square.
Hasib Hussain, from Leeds, is believed to have been the bomber on the No 30 bus. It is understood the 19-year-old's driving licence and credit cards were found in the wreckage. The bus bomber is thought to have failed to get on to the Northern line so boarded a bus instead.
The man believed to have been responsible for the Aldgate blast is Shahzad Tanweer, 23, also of Leeds. Scotland Yard said yesterday that they had recovered CCTV footage of the four bombers at King's Cross station with their rucksack bombs minutes before the attacks.
Tanweer and Hussain's houses were among six raided by West Yorkshire Police. The men are known to have been missing since last week. Tanweer, said by neighbours at his home in Colwyn Road, Beeston, to have been a university educated graduate and keen local cricketer, had not been at home since last week, which had been a cause of concern for his father Mohammed, who runs a chip shop near the family home.
His friend, Azzy Mohammed, said: 'We played cricket together and I [could not imagine him doing] anything to hurt anyone as he has a very strong family.'
Hussain, of Colonso Mount, Holbeck, Leeds, is understood to have been the subject of attempts at discipline by his parents, Mahmood and Hussain, after becoming difficult to control in his adolescence. But he became devoutly religious 18 months ago and is believed to have gone to London last week, since which time he has not been seen or contacted,despite the efforts of his brother.
Detectives evacuated 500 homes before carrying out a controlled explosion in the Burley district of Leeds.
The breakthrough in the investigation came at 8pm on Monday when detectives found a CCTV picture of the four bombers at King's Cross station 20 minutes before they blew themselves up.
But a senior security source warned last night: "We have not got the plotters or planners. Al-Qa'ida methodology is to put someone into the country - they do the preparation and they are out the door." He added that the fear remains that whoever helped the four bombers has recruited and trained other British suicide attackers. "How many other clean skins are waiting in the wings?," he said.
Only one of the three identified suicide bombers had any known connections to other al-Qa'ida suspects, and it was only at a very low level of association, according to sources. Hours after the Leeds raids, police evacuated Luton railway station and car park as they recovered a vehicle that was later found to have explosives inside.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said: "The investigation is moving at great speed. We are trying to establish the movements of the suspects in the run-up to last week's attack and specifically to establish whether they all died in the explosions."
Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, leading the police hunt, said the bombings were the work of "extremists and criminals".
Tony Blair issued a defiant statement saying: "Together, our modern, diverse and tolerant country will ensure the terrorists fail in their attempts to destroy the way of life we all share and value."
The final death toll from last Thursday's attacks is expected to rise above 52, with police assigning family liaison officers to more than 70 families.
The terrorists responsible for the Tube and bus attacks in London have been revealed as home-grown suicide bombers.
The young British men, all thought to be of Pakistani origin, are believed to have blown themselves up with rucksack bombs on Thursday morning last week, killing at least 52 people.
Senior security sources warned last night that the suspected al-Qa'ida planners - bomb-makers and organisers - are still at large and further suicide bombings are likely.
The four men, including one teenager, all come from the Leeds area of West Yorkshire They were not considered to be Islamic extremists and were not suspected of any significant links with terrorism.
The realisation that so-called British "clean skins" are prepared to carry out suicide attacks has transformed the way this country will have to view security. "What we considered normal has changed for ever," said a senior security source.
It is almost impossible to guard against a suicide attack and security measures at all public places will have to be rethought. Tough new security laws are also expected to be introduced to try to combat the threat.
Anti-terrorist officers raided houses in Leeds and Dewsbury where they found a bomb factory belonging to one of the terrorists. Explosive were also found in a car at Luton railway station, which is thought to have been used by the bombers to drive from Leeds on Thursday.
The bodies of three of the terrorists responsible for the forst suicide bombing in western Europe have been identified, while a fourth is thought to be among the remains in the wreckage on the Piccadilly line between King's Cross and Russell Square.
Hasib Hussain, from Leeds, is believed to have been the bomber on the No 30 bus. It is understood the 19-year-old's driving licence and credit cards were found in the wreckage. The bus bomber is thought to have failed to get on to the Northern line so boarded a bus instead.
The man believed to have been responsible for the Aldgate blast is Shahzad Tanweer, 23, also of Leeds. Scotland Yard said yesterday that they had recovered CCTV footage of the four bombers at King's Cross station with their rucksack bombs minutes before the attacks.
Tanweer and Hussain's houses were among six raided by West Yorkshire Police. The men are known to have been missing since last week. Tanweer, said by neighbours at his home in Colwyn Road, Beeston, to have been a university educated graduate and keen local cricketer, had not been at home since last week, which had been a cause of concern for his father Mohammed, who runs a chip shop near the family home.
His friend, Azzy Mohammed, said: 'We played cricket together and I [could not imagine him doing] anything to hurt anyone as he has a very strong family.'
Hussain, of Colonso Mount, Holbeck, Leeds, is understood to have been the subject of attempts at discipline by his parents, Mahmood and Hussain, after becoming difficult to control in his adolescence. But he became devoutly religious 18 months ago and is believed to have gone to London last week, since which time he has not been seen or contacted,despite the efforts of his brother.
Detectives evacuated 500 homes before carrying out a controlled explosion in the Burley district of Leeds.
The breakthrough in the investigation came at 8pm on Monday when detectives found a CCTV picture of the four bombers at King's Cross station 20 minutes before they blew themselves up.
But a senior security source warned last night: "We have not got the plotters or planners. Al-Qa'ida methodology is to put someone into the country - they do the preparation and they are out the door." He added that the fear remains that whoever helped the four bombers has recruited and trained other British suicide attackers. "How many other clean skins are waiting in the wings?," he said.
Only one of the three identified suicide bombers had any known connections to other al-Qa'ida suspects, and it was only at a very low level of association, according to sources. Hours after the Leeds raids, police evacuated Luton railway station and car park as they recovered a vehicle that was later found to have explosives inside.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said: "The investigation is moving at great speed. We are trying to establish the movements of the suspects in the run-up to last week's attack and specifically to establish whether they all died in the explosions."
Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, leading the police hunt, said the bombings were the work of "extremists and criminals".
Tony Blair issued a defiant statement saying: "Together, our modern, diverse and tolerant country will ensure the terrorists fail in their attempts to destroy the way of life we all share and value."
The final death toll from last Thursday's attacks is expected to rise above 52, with police assigning family liaison officers to more than 70 families. |
