Probe 'might delay' extradition of London bombing suspect

Investigations in Italy could delay the extradition of a suspect sought by British authorities for the failed London bombings on July 21 and arrested in Rome last week, the suspect’s defence lawyer said today.

Antonietta Sonnessa, defence lawyer for Hamdi Issac, said that “Italian authorities believe there is evidence against him also on the Italian territory,” and that the evidence was “such that he should be held in Italy".

Yesterday, a Rome judge charged Ethiopian-born Issac, who is accused of carrying out a failed July 21 attack at the Shepherd’s Bush underground station and is detained in Rome, with association with the aim of international terrorism.

However, Italian anti-terrorism police said yesterday there was no evidence linking Issac to terrorism investigations in Italy, and that his extradition would not take long.

Sonnessa said “one cannot possibly define the timing of the extradition process”.

In Britain, Home Office minister Hazel Blears said that “it’s my understanding that there are no domestic charges” against Issac that might delay his extradition.

Sonnessa has suggested her client will resist extradition, and said today he feared the “emotional tension” in Britain following the failed attacks and the deadly suicide bombings on July 7 that killed 56 including four bombers.

There were no casualties in the July 21 attacks.

Italian police also have arrested two of Issac’s brothers who live in Italy: Remzi Issac, in whose Rome apartment the suspect was hiding; and Fati Issac, picked up on Sunday in the northern industrial city of Brescia and accused of destroying or hiding documents sought by investigators.