An Italian court has approved the extradition within 35 days of a suspect wanted in connection with the failed bomb attacks in London on 21 July. Osman Hussain, also known as Hamdi Issac, will fight the decision at the Italian supreme court, his lawyers say. The 27-year-old, who was arrested in Italy one week after the attacks, is accused of trying to bomb a Tube train at Shepherd's Bush. He admits taking part, but says he wanted to scare people, not kill them. Three other men have been charged in the UK with the failed London bombings - which targeted three Tube trains and a bus.
Scotland Yard anti-terror officers flew to Italy last week to question Mr Hussain at the Rome prison where he has been held since 29 July. It is thought he fled to Italy by train after allegedly being seen at the scene of the failed attack at Shepherd's Bush underground station.
| "4-8-2 wheels don't fail me now!" |
Italian judges were asked to consider whether Osman Hussain should first face terrorism charges in Italy. Lawyers for the British government were expected to argue that under international law the country which suffered the most damage has the right to try the suspect. The BBC's Jonathan Charles in Rome said it was seen as a test case for the new European Arrest Warrant, which is intended to speed up extradition in such cases.
| Just wait til Carla Del Ponte hears that. |
Ibrahim Muktar Said, 27, Yassin Hassan Omar, 24, and Ramzi Mohamed, 23, appeared before magistrates on Bow Street magistrates sitting at Belmarsh high security prison in south-east London, last week. They are charged with attempted murder and possessing explosives. One charge faced by Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 32, relates to an unexploded device found two days after the bomb attempts. The four men - who are also charged with conspiracy to murder - were remanded in custody for three months and will next appear in court on 14 November. The failed 21 July attacks took place two weeks to the day after four suicide bombers killed 52 passengers on the London transport network. |
