London bombers 'were all British'

Watch police briefing
After a day of intensive police activity, detectives say at least one of four suspected London bombers died in last week's Tube and bus blasts.
Security sources said it was likely three men whose belongings were found at the scenes are dead - there is a question mark about the fourth bomber.

Explosives were found in Leeds and Luton after a series of dawn raids.

The BBC's Frank Gardner said it was unlikely the men - who police believe were all British - acted alone.

It appears our youth have been involved in last week's horrific bombings - nothing in Islam can ever justify the evil actions of the bombers

Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Muslim Council of Britain

Police said they had arrested a relative of one of the four suspects in Yorkshire and taken them to London for questioning.

Four bombs - three on the London Underground and one on a bus in Tavistock Square in the city centre - killed at least 52 people on Thursday.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie of the Muslim Council of Britain said they had received the latest news from the police with "anguish, shock and horror".

Breakthrough

He said: "It appears our youth have been involved in last week's horrific bombings against innocent people.

"While the police investigation continues we reiterate our absolute commitment and resolve to helping the police bring to justice all involved in this crime of mass murder. Nothing in Islam can ever justify the evil actions of the bombers."

The breakthrough in the anti-terror investigation came after a day of raids in West Yorkshire and the seizure of a car at Luton rail station.

The raids, which began at 0630BST, centred on two properties in Dewsbury and four in Leeds.

WEST YORKSHIRE RAIDS

1. 0630 BST: Two houses raided in Beeston
2. Two houses raided at same time in Thornhill, Dewsbury
3. One House raided in Holbeck
4. 1320 BST: Controlled explosion in Burley

Suspects: Key facts
Leeds neighbours' shock

They were carried out after the discovery on Monday night of CCTV images showing the four men at King's Cross station just before 0830BST on the day of the attacks.

The images showed the men, who had boarded a Thameslink train at Luton, carrying rucksacks.

Explosives were later found in the car at Luton, where experts carried out five controlled explosions as a cordon was erected around the station.

Police removed the explosives from the vehicle and were expected to destroy them later on Tuesday night.

A second car believed to be linked to the attacks was found at Leighton Buzzard, 10 miles (16km) west of Luton.

Bedfordshire Police were examining it after receiving a tip-off from the Metropolitan Police. They refused to say exactly where the car was found.

Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the searches, carried out under the Terrorism Act, were intelligence-led and "directly connected" to last week's attacks.

There is no identity for the fourth bomber and police do not know if his remains are at the King's Cross blast site or if he has fled.

No-one should smear or stigmatise any community with these acts

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman

Head of the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch Peter Clarke said documents identifying three of the men were found near three blast sites.

Three of the four men were from the West Yorkshire area, said Mr Clarke.

His colleague, assistant commissioner Andy Hayman, said: "I want to conclude by making it absolutely clear that no-one should be in any doubt the work last Thursday is that of extremists and criminals.

"No-one should smear or stigmatise any community with these acts."

Evidence found at each London location
Following developments on Tuesday he described the investigation as "complex and intensive" and "moving at great speed".

BOMB MANHUNT

London: Forensic work ongoing at blast sites
Leeds area: Six houses searched, controlled explosion at one, one arrest made
Luton: Controlled explosion after car find near station

List of bomb victims
Detectives focus on Luton car

Police said there was forensic evidence that one of the bombers died in the Aldgate explosion.

Property belonging to one of the suspects from West Yorkshire, who was reported missing by his family just after 10am on Thursday, was found on the devastated bus.

Police have established that man was joined on his journey to London by three other men.

The second man's property was found at the scene of the Aldgate blast and the third man's belongings at both the Aldgate and Edgware Road blasts.

Mr Clarke said: "We are trying to establish their movements in the run up to last week's attacks and specifically to establish if they all died in the explosions."

Eleven victims of the blasts have now been formally identified.

One inquest has been opened and adjourned, that of Susan Levy, 53, from Hertfordshire.

Eight more will be opened on Wednesday, including those of Jamie Gordon, 30, and Phillip Russell, 29, who were named on Tuesday.

A further two inquests will open on Thursday.

Police are asking for anyone with information on the bombs to contact their anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

From BBC website:

Wow, all British eh? What a surprise that will be to some on here... Wonder how closing our borders and sorting out immigration comes into the equation now then?

Edited by saxoneagle (12 Jul 2005 10:39pm)

I do agree with you here, and when I heard that these people were all 'British', I knew there would be people coming on here saying this.

I am not necessarily saying it was the right thing to do at the time, as I am not old enough to know what was happening, but had their parents not been allowed in, none of tnhis would have happened. Having said that, I still don't think these could have been prevented.

One thing this should do, is take pressure off of the government slightly. Before this was announced, many people were blaming Blair for letting in foreigners/immigrants, and now those people have been proved wrong to a certain extent.