Biochemist arrested in Egypt over bombings

THE race to find the masterminds behind the London bomb atrocities gathered pace last night as an Egyptian chemical expert suspected of involvement in the blasts was arrested in Cairo.

Magdy el-Nashar, who was awarded a PhD in biochemical science at Leeds University in May, allegedly rented out a flat in the city used by the attackers as their “bomb factory”.

The 33-year-old left Britain a few days before the July 7 attacks, telling colleagues he had visa problems. Police believe he is connected to the fourth bomber Lyndsay Jermaine who rented a Leeds flat from him.

The international dimension to the suicide train and bus bombings which left at least 54 people dead came as Britain’s most senior policeman said it was almost certain there was a “clear al-Qaida link” to the blasts.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair put Britain on maximum alert for a fresh wave of terror attacks, issuing a blunt warning that it was now a “very strong possibility”.

Security services believe there may be around 50 potential suicide bombers in Britain willing to strike, with a soft target such as a shopping mall or nightclub the most likely target.

In a day of rapidly moving developments, it emerged that explosives made from ingredients available in high street chemists were found in one of the homes being searched in Leeds and that they were the same kind of explosive shoe bomber Richard Reid used to try to blow up a transatlantic flight in 2001.

In a bizarre twist, it was revealed that the Edgware Road suicide bomber

Mohammed Sidique Khan visited the House of Commons last year as the guest of a Yorkshire MP.

The police commissioner branded the four bombers mere “foot soldiers” of the operation and stressed tracking the mastermind controlling them was his urgent priority.

“What we’ve got to find is, who encouraged them? who trained them? and who’s the chemist?” he said.

Mr el-Nashar has denied having any role in the bombings and says he was on holiday in Egypt when he was arrested, Egypt’s Interior Ministry said.

The first funeral for one of the bomb victims took place yesterday when Shahara Islam, 20, from Plaistow, East London, was buried. The number of victims identified reached 38 and 31 have been named.