Posted on 08/03/2005 5:39:14 PM PDT by blam
My Tube bomb only had flour in it, says suspect
By Bruce Johnston in Rome and John Steele
(Filed: 04/08/2005)
Hamdi Issac, the July 21 London bomb suspect held in custody in Rome, reportedly claimed yesterday that his backpack contained only flour and was designed merely to frighten.
Issac, known in Britain as Hussain Osman, was said to have "morally repented" for his alleged involvement in the abortive terrorist attacks.
Osman: bombing was ‘a demonstrative action’
"I was wrong," Issac, 27, a Briton of Ethiopian origin, told his lawyer, Maria Antonietta Sonnessa. She has confirmed that he admitted taking part in the attacks.
The suspect in the failed Shepherd's Bush Underground bombing was also quoted as saying: "If I could, I'd turn the clock back and I wouldn't do it again."
According to Italian newspapers, he claimed not to have planned to kill anybody in the attack, "let alone myself".
"I value life too highly," he said. "I've never thought of dying. Just the thought of it terrifies me. It was a demonstrative action. In that backpack there was a detonator, but the rest was flour. It was only supposed to go bang, and frighten people."
His claims came as a 23-year-old man, believed to be an associate of Issac, last night became the first person to be charged in connection with either the July 7 or the July 21 attacks on the London transport system.
Ismael Abdurahman, of Newport Street, Kennington, south London, will appear in court today charged with withholding information about Issac, one of four alleged would-be suicide bombers on July 21.
In Rome, a judge who has the British extradition request for Issac indicated yesterday that there could be a decision this month.
Crown prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant after Issac was arrested at his brother Remzi's home in Rome last Friday.
"Tomorrow or the day after, a date for the hearing will be fixed," said Judge Domenico Massimo Miceli. "I believe that the debate could unfold by the end of August."
Miss Sonnessa rejected as "offensive" suggestions that she was seeking a deal with authorities to give her client "supergrass" status in return for his co-operation.
The British embassy in Rome denied suggestions that the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police were unhappy with co-operation from the Italians. Many claims being reported were incorrect, a spokesman said.
Scotland Yard did not despatch a number of officers within 24 hours of the arrest in Italy; one senior investigating officer was following the proceedings and liaising with the Italians.
All requests made by the prosecuting authorities had been dealt with promptly by the Italians, and documentation provided by the British was full and complete.
The Italian authorities had requested clarification on an administrative aspect. "This has not delayed extradition proceedings," said the spokesman.
The Italian authorities had arrested Osman and his arrest had been validated by a judge, but this did not amount to a formal charge.
Brits to Osman: Our rope only had hemp in it.
"claimed yesterday that his backpack contained only flour and was designed merely to frighten."
Thats called terrorism. Hang him.
Isn't that the classic definition of terrorism?
Your food bowl, while you are in prison for the next 50 years, will only have flour in it.
One way or another it will give the liberal press something to whine and moan about.
If he carried out such an attack with only flour in it, then he is too dumb/too crazy to be allowed out back on the streets. See ya'.
"morally repented"
Now it's the laws turn you puke.
Man, I can't even type that in a joke...
It was like an exploding pinata!
(Hang the SOB!)
The reason is simple: He had explosives in the pack along with the detonator. The types of detonators they used, according to information I have been reading on the net, are only good for a short period of time and go bad if exposed to heat, etc.
I think they screwed up and let the detonators grow weak, so weak they couldn't set the rest of the bomb off, IMO.
...Issac, known in Britain as Hussain Osman...
Hmm.
Not the first Osman to be involved with a bombing.
I wonder if there is a commonality.
Do the Brits still hve a capital punishment option for idiots like this? Maybe he could work as Madonna's pool boy.
Would look much better on a stick displayed at the town square.
That could have been what his handlers told him. Although you would think that these guys would wisen up after the 4 on 7/7 blew themselves up.
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