03/08/2005

Zambia to deport British terror suspect

A British terrorist suspect arrested in Zambia is to be deported to the UK, it has been announced.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa announced that Haroon Rashid Aswat, 30, from West Yorkshire, would be extradited to the UK.

There had been speculation that Mr Aswat, who is of Indian descent, was allegedly the mastermind behind the July 7 suicide bomb attacks in London, which killed 52 people.

It was reported that Mr Aswat had been in phone contact with at least one of the suicide bombers who carried out the four attacks on three Tube trains and a bus. It was also reported that he had been in London prior to the attacks and left the country just hours before they took place.

However, Scotland Yard has denied reports that Mr Aswat is wanted in connection with the July 7 bombings.

However, it has emerged that US authorities are seeking to question him over allegations that he tried to set up al-Qaeda training camps in the US in 1999.

Mr Aswat is believed to have entered Zambia on July 6 and was arrested on July 20.

The government is also continuing to attempt to extradite Hussein Osman, one of the group who allegedly attempted to carry out further bomb attacks in London on July 21.

Mr Osman was arrested in Rome last week. The three other suspects are in police custody in London, following arrests in the capital and Birmingham last week.

A total of 16 people remain in custody, following the attempted bombings of July 21.

(KMcA/SP)

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