Osman Hussain
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Born in Ethiopia, Hussain is a naturalized British citizen married to Yeshshiemebet Girma.
On July 29th he was arrested during a 40-officer raid at his brother-in-law's apartment in Rome, after cellphone calls led police to believe he was hiding there. After taking Hussain from the first-floor apartment draped in a black hood, police forces announced they were cooperating with Scotland Yard to see him extradited back to the UK to face charges for his role in the failed bombings. As of August, he is fighting the extradition with the representation of lawyer Antonietta Sonnessa.
Claimed Objectives
During the initial investigation in Rome, Hussain said he was motivated to participate in the attacks after viewing videos of war-torn Iraq. "I am against war," Osman said "I've marched in peace rallies and nobody listened to me. I never thought of killing people." He explained that the bombs were never meant to detonate or kill anybody, only to draw attention to the Iraq war.[link]Other news sources reported that the bombers watched videos of British and American troops killing women and children in Iraq before embarking on their mission. [link] Some quoted him as saying "Muktar showed us some DVDs with images of the war in Iraq, especially women and children killed by American and British soldiers," Hussain said, adding that they were not to talk about these videos with others[link]
"There was a feeling of hatred and conviction that it was necessary to give signal — to do something." Hussain denied links with either the Al-Qaeda or the July 7 bombers [link].
Official Charges
On the 8th December, Osman was officially charged with:
- On 21 July 2005 he attempted to murder passengers on the Transport for London system
- On or before 21 July 2005, he conspired together with others to murder passengers on the Transport for London system
- On 21 July 2005, he unlawfully and maliciously made or had in his possession, or under his control, an explosive substance with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property
- On or before 21 July 2005 he conspired with others to cause by an explosive substance, explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property
See also
Jean Charles de Menezes, who was killed by police after being mistaken for HussainExternal links
- BBC News: [Charges in Full]
- Sky News reports:
['Fourth bomb supect' held in Rome]
- BBC News report: ['All four' July 21 suspects held]
- Associated Press report: [London, Rome Arrest Suspected 7-21 Bombers]
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