Bombers ‘almost certainly’ British

THE bombers behind the London attacks were “almost certainly” British — with many more born and bred in the country willing to attack, Former Metropolitan Police chief John Stevens warned yesterday.

His outspoken comments in an article in yesterday's News of the World angered race relation groups.

Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission in London, said the claims were unfounded and threw suspicion on all Muslims in Britain.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reported that al-Qaida was secretly recruiting Muslims in British colleges.

It is especially looking for students with engineering or computer expertise, the paper added, citing what it said was a leaked report from the Home Office and Foreign Office.

"It seems that a particularly strong cause of disillusionment among Muslims is a perceived 'double standard' in the foreign policy of western governments, in particular Britain and the US," the report was quoted as saying.

Three Islamist groups have claimed responsibility for the London blasts, which government ministers said bore the hallmarks of the al-Qaida network which was behind the September 11 attacks on the United States.

None of the claims has been confirmed.

No official comment on the report was immediately available.

In the report, Young, Clever ... and British, Mr Stevens said any hope the attackers came from abroad was "dangerous wishful thinking".

He forecast the bombings would "unleash a tidal wave" of information from the Muslim community.

He continued: "(The bombers) will be apparently ordinary British citizens, young men conservatively and cleanly dressed and probably with some higher education.

"They are also willing to kill without mercy and to take a long time in their planning.

"We believe that up to 3,000 British born or British-based people have passed through Osama bin Laden's training camps over the years," he said.

Iqbal Sacranie, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "I cannot imagine what prompted him to make these comments.

"Up until recently he has been working in an organisation that is trying hard to improve race relations.

MP George Galloway dismissed the claims, saying Lord Stevens had "no idea" who was responsible for the attacks.

"He wasn't the commissioner on the day the explosion occurred, he is a retired police officer ... I would rather listen to the existing commissioner."

But a spokesperson for the Church of England said it respected Lord Stevens authority on terrorism.

The Metropolitan Police refused to comment on the points, a spokesperson said simply: "These are the views of Sir John."