Counter-terrorism detectives raided a flat in Leeds on Wednesday as part of the continuing investigation into the July 7, 2005 suicide bomb attacks on London. Police said the action was to determine whether there were any links between the one-bedroom property in the Harehills area and the four men who killed 52 commuters in the London bombings. Three of the bombers: Mohammed Sidique Khan; Shehzad Tanweer and Hasib Hussain came from the Beeston area of Leeds, which was also the location for the men's bomb factory. "While it is more than three years since the attacks, this remains a painstaking investigation and as we have previously said we are determined to identify anyone else who knew what was being planned," said John McDowall, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command. "As a result of our inquiries, we are carrying out an extensive search of the flat to determine whether there are any links to the people responsible for the 7/7 attacks."
Detectives were also renewing appeals for any information from the local community that could prove useful in their investigation and were planning to carry out house to house inquiries. "I would urge anyone who has suspicions about activity in the flat, either in the months leading up to the 7/7 attacks or afterwards, to contact police," McDowall said. Police say the search at the property was likely to take several days and there had been no arrests.
Khan, Tanweer, Hussain and Jermaine Lindsay blew up three underground trains and a bus using homemade, hydrogen peroxide-based bombs. Senior officers have always maintained that the 7/7 bombers had assistance from other people with links to Al Qaeda, as they would not have had the technical expertise to make the devices themselves. Detectives have also said they believe there are people who might have information who have so far remained silent.