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My Tube bomb only had flour in it, says suspect
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By Bruce Johnston in Rome and John Steele (Filed: 04/08/2005)

Hamdi Issac, the July 21 London bomb suspect held in custody in Rome, reportedly claimed yesterday that his backpack contained only flour and was designed merely to frighten. Issac, known in Britain as Hussain Osman, was said to have "morally repented" for his alleged involvement in the abortive terrorist attacks.

"I was wrong," Issac, 27, a Briton of Ethiopian origin, told his lawyer, Maria Antonietta Sonnessa. She has confirmed that he admitted taking part in the attacks. The suspect in the failed Shepherd's Bush Underground bombing was also quoted as saying: "If I could, I'd turn the clock back and I wouldn't do it again." According to Italian newspapers, he claimed not to have planned to kill anybody in the attack, "let alone myself". "I value life too highly," he said. "I've never thought of dying. Just the thought of it terrifies me. It was a demonstrative action. In that backpack there was a detonator, but the rest was flour. It was only supposed to go bang, and frighten people."

His claims came as a 23-year-old man, believed to be an associate of Issac, last night became the first person to be charged in connection with either the July 7 or the July 21 attacks on the London transport system. Ismael Abdurahman, of Newport Street, Kennington, south London, will appear in court today charged with withholding information about Issac, one of four alleged would-be suicide bombers on July 21.

In Rome, a judge who has the British extradition request for Issac indicated yesterday that there could be a decision this month. Crown prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant after Issac was arrested at his brother Remzi's home in Rome last Friday.

"Tomorrow or the day after, a date for the hearing will be fixed," said Judge Domenico Massimo Miceli. "I believe that the debate could unfold by the end of August."

Miss Sonnessa rejected as "offensive" suggestions that she was seeking a deal with authorities to give her client "supergrass" status in return for his co-operation. The British embassy in Rome denied suggestions that the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police were unhappy with co-operation from the Italians. Many claims being reported were incorrect, a spokesman said.

Scotland Yard did not despatch a number of officers within 24 hours of the arrest in Italy; one senior investigating officer was following the proceedings and liaising with the Italians. All requests made by the prosecuting authorities had been dealt with promptly by the Italians, and documentation provided by the British was full and complete.

The Italian authorities had requested clarification on an administrative aspect. "This has not delayed extradition proceedings," said the spokesman.

The Italian authorities had arrested Osman and his arrest had been validated by a judge, but this did not amount to a formal charge. - Telegraph
 http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/04/nbomb04.xml

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London bomb suspect tells British police his device wouldn't have killed anyone
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08.09.2005, 12:10 PM

ROME (AFX) - Hamdi Issac, a suspect in the failed July 21 bomb attacks in London, said his improvised explosive was made from an agricultural substance, a defoliant and flour and would not have killed anyone even if it had detonated properly, a Italian judge Domenico Miceli said.

He told reporters that the 27-year-old Briton of Ethiopian origin was cooperating with three British police investigators who travelled to Rome to question him, the ANSA news agency reported.

Speaking after the questioning session at Regina Coeli prison where Issac is being held, Miceli said the suspect replied calmly and without hesitation for two hours.

'The cooperation with the English officials is very good. The first part of the interrogation was mine, followed by Scotland Yard's questions,' said Miceli, a Rome appeal court judge, referring to the British police.

Issac, also known as Osman Hussein, also said he had only wanted to make a 'bang' with his device as a protest against the war in Iraq, where Britain is the staunchest ally of the US, the judge said.

'We knew from the start that we wouldn't hurt anyone. You can see that just by looking at the bombs that were recovered. Our action was a demonstration against the massacres committed every day in Iraq,' Issac was quoted as saying.

Issac, who was arrested in Italy on July 29 three days after fleeing Britain, has been charged with 'international terrorism' and holding false identity papers.

British police asked to be allowed to question Issac about the attacks, a near-carbon copy of the July 7 bombings on London's transport system in which 56 people died, including four suicide bombers.

Britain has requested his extradition, and a hearing has been scheduled for Aug 17.


 http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/08/09/afx2176319.html

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so this is why Menezes was killed because they thought he was Osman Hussein???


do me a favour!

he was silenced