Government probe into how bomber left UK
The government is to investigate how suspected London bomber Hussain Osman was able to flee to Italy following the failed July 21st attacks on the capital.
Ethiopia-born Osman, 27, is currently being held in Rome over allegations he was responsible for the botched attack on a tube train at Shepherd’s Bush station ten days ago.
The remaining three suspected bombers are currently being questioned by police over simultaneous attempts to blow up tube trains at Warren Street and Oval underground stations and a number 26 bus in Shoreditch, east London.
Osman was apprehended after mobile phone calls were traced to his brother’s flat in the city, Italian officials have said.
It is believed he left Britain following attacks aboard a Eurostar train from London Waterloo last Tuesday, before making his way across Europe to Rome.
Leader of the Commons Geoff Hoon told BBC News 24 Sunday that the Home Office would be investigating reports that inadequate passport checks at the international rail terminal may have helped Osman to escape the UK.
Reports suggest the suspect’s passport was only checked by French immigration officials based at the station, after outgoing British passport checks were abandoned there last year.
“I’m aware that the Home Office will be looking at that. Certainly in recent times there has been enhanced security for those leaving the country as well as for those coming into the United Kingdom,” said Mr Hoon.
“It’s one of those arguments that we have used to support the idea of identity cards, because it is vitally important that we are able to say who is in the United Kingdom at any given time.”
Commenting on the allegations prior to Mr Hoon’s announcement of the investigation, shadow home secretary David Davis said: “This demonstrates the vital and immediate necessity for the government to get a grip on our porous borders, both in terms of people coming into the country and in terms of people leaving.”
Meanwhile, Osman is fighting against proceedings to extradite him to the UK.
His Italian court-appointed lawyer, Antonietta Sonnessa has warned that the process to extradite her client back to Britain could last two months, with legal tussles likely to delay procedures.
Scotland Yard confirmed that it is trying to get Osman returned under a new fast-track law to speed up the extradition of those wanted by authorities in other EU countries.
