17 now held over failed London bombings

A total of 17 people remain in police custody in Britain in connection with the failed London bomb attacks on July 21st.

A total of 17 people remain in police custody in Britain in connection with the failed London bomb attacks on July 21st.

Police ascend steps behind flats at Victoria House in Lambeth, south London, yesterday evening
Police ascend steps behind flats at Victoria House in Lambeth, south London, yesterday evening

Two men and a woman arrested in raids in Brighton on Sunday were released today; four others had warrants to hold them extended until this Friday.

A total of 37 arrests have now been made in the Britain by police investigating the bomb attempts.

That total does not include Hussain Osman, the suspect held in Rome.

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The latest arrests came last night when two men were detained after raids in south London.

Armed police made the arrests after they entered an address in Clapham and two homes in Stockwell.

The suspects were being held at a central London police station on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Scotland Yard said.

Hussain Osman, also known as Hamdi Issac, who was arrested in Rome last week, has been charged under Italy's anti-terrorism laws.

The Ethiopian-born suspect, sought in connection with the failed July 21st attack at the Shepherd's Bush Underground station, was charged by a judge with association with the aim of international terrorism and with possessing false documents, said Antonietta Sonnessa, his lawyer.

Ms Sonnessa said nothing had been decided concerning Britain's extradition request for her client.

Police earlier described how they monitored Issac's mobile phone calls before arresting him and said he had falsified his name and nationality when applying for asylum in Britain.

The suspect, born in Ethiopia as Hamdi Issac, changed his name to Osman Hussain and claimed he was from Somalia when he applied for political asylum, police said.

Italian police were able to confirm Mr Issac's identity by the presence of a wound on the suspect's right leg, which British police said was suffered as he tried to jump over a barrier to escape the London Tube station following the failed attack.

The suspect was being held in a Rome prison and was awaiting possible extradition.

The failed bombings July 21st of three London Tube stations and a bus occurred two weeks after the July 7th attacks that killed 52 people and four suicide bombers. There were no casualties in the July 21st attacks.