Police hunt for masterminds behind London bomb attacks

Police investigating last week’s bomb explosions in London are hunting for the masterminds behind the attacks, as it emerged that the blasts were caused by suspected suicide bombers.

On Tuesday, police conducted raids in six addresses in the West Yorkshire area. The searches came after the family of one suspect had reported him missing on the day of the explosions. Documents bearing the names of three of the suspects were then found close to the seats where three of the explosions took place.

Three of the four suspects have been named so far. Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Mohammed Sadique Khan, 30 and Hasib Hussain, 19 are all from the West Yorkshire area. They are all British-born but of Pakistani descent.

Mr Khan, from Dewsbury, is believed to have been on the Edgware Road tube train, while Mr Tanweer, from Leeds, is understood to have been on the train, which was blown up between Aldgate and Liverpool Street. Mr Hussain, whose family reported him missing last Thursday, was on board the Number 30 bus, which was blown up in Tavistock Square.

A fourth man, who is thought to come from Luton, is believed to have been on the train which was travelling between King’s Cross and Russell Square.

The three named suspects are believed to have travelled from Leeds to Luton by train. They are then believed to have been joined by the fourth man before travelling to London.

Police said they had identified CCTV footage showing the four men at King’s Cross station, shortly before 8:30am on July 7.

Police are now believed to be searching for a fifth person who was involved in the attacks. Detectives believe that this person may have been involved in making the bombs or organising the attacks.

France's Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has claimed that some of the suspects had been arrested last year, but Home Secretary Charles Clarke has denied the claims.

Police are also understood to have found explosives at a property in Leeds during Tuesday’s raids.

They have also been examining two cars found at Luton station on Tuesday, which were believed to be linked to the attacks. Explosives were discovered in one of the cars, while another car was towed to a storage facility in Leighton Buzzard for further examination.

A relative of one of the suspects was arrested in West Yorkshire following the raids and was taken to London for questioning by anti-terrorist police.

There are fears that the men may have been part of a terrorist cell in Britain that could be planning further attacks.

Commenting on the attacks, Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, Head of MPS Specialist Operations said: “No-one should be in any doubt the work last Thursday is that of extremists and criminals. So, that being the case no-one should smear or stigmatise any communities with these acts.”

Sir Iqbal Sacranie of the Muslim Council of Britain said it had received the news with “anguish, shock and horror.” 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. We are determined to work together with all concerned to prevent such an atrocity ever happening again.”

At least 52 people were killed and 700 wounded in the London explosions on July 7. A list of the dead who have been named so far can be found here.

(KMcA/GB)