One of four suspects in the failed July 21st London bombings, who was arrested in Rome, left the Italian capital today to be extradited to Britain, Italian police said.
Hamdi Issac, a British citizen also known as Hussein Osman, boarded a plane at Rome's Ciampino airport that took off at about 12.15pm (11.15 Irish time).
He was arrested on an international arrest warrant in the Italian capital on July 29th. British authorities want to prosecute him for his alleged role in the attempted bombing at the Shepherd's Bush Underground station.
Osman fought extradition, but Italy's highest court on September 13th upheld a lower court's decision to extradite him to Britain.
"On his arrival in the UK, officers will arrest Osman on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and alleged offences under the Explosive Substances Act of 1883," London's Metropolitan Police said.
A private charter jet carrying Osman was due to land at RAF Northolt in west London this afternoon, after which he is likely to be taken to Paddington Green police station.
Ethiopian-born Osman (27) has already been questioned at length by British and Italian anti-terror police in the Italian capital.
During the interviews, Osman claimed his rucksack "bomb" was packed with flour and was meant to scare people but not harm them. Three other alleged would-be suicide bombers have been charged in the UK over the failed bombings.
AP