Posted on 07/15/2005 3:27:31 PM PDT by traumer
The family of 18-year-old London bomber Hasib Mir Hussain say they are "devastated" by what has happened.
In a statement they described the bus bomber as "a loving and normal young man who gave us no concern". "We had no knowledge of his activities and had we done, we would have done everything in our power to stop him."
Earlier, an Egyptian chemistry expert sought by police over the attacks, Magdi Mahmoud al-Nashar, 33, was arrested in Cairo.
Hussain was reported missing by his family in the aftermath of the bombings.
LONDON BOMBERS Shezhad Tanweer. Photo: Ross Parry Mohammad Sidique Khan: Aged 30, from Beeston, Leeds, recently moved to Dewsbury, married with baby. ID found at Edgware Road blast site. Hasib Mir Hussain (confirmed): Aged 18, lived Holbeck, Leeds. Reported missing on day of bombings. Said to have turned very religious two years ago. ID found in No 30 bus. Shehzad Tanweer (confirmed; above): Aged 22, born Bradford, lived Beeston, Leeds. Studied religion in Pakistan. Forensic evidence linking him to Aldgate blast. Lindsey Germaine: Jamaican-born man who lived in Buckinghamshire.
Bomb suspects: Key facts
"We, the family of Hasib Mir Hussain, are devastated over the events of the past few days," they said in Friday's statement.
"We are having difficulty taking this in.
"Our thoughts are with all the bereaved families and we have to live ourselves with the loss of our son in these difficult circumstances.
"We had no knowledge of his activities and, had we done we would have done everything in our power to stop him.
"We urge anyone with information about these events, or leading up to them, to co-operate fully with the authorities.
"This is a difficult time and we ask you to let us grieve for our son in private."
Earlier, police searched a house in Leeds linked to Mr al-Nashar, who was arrested in Cairo, but did not formally named him as a suspect in their investigation.
The 33-year-old had not been seen by colleagues at Leeds University since early July.
He denied having any role in the attacks and said he was on holiday, Egypt's Interior Ministry said.
Searches continue
Police are hunting the financiers, supporters and chemists who assembled the bombs which killed 51 people in London on Thursday.
Three of the four bombers are also confirmed dead, and the fourth bomber is also thought to have died.
Shahara Islam Our Shahara is returning to her Lord - an innocent and blood-stained martyr Family of bombing victim Shahara Islam
First bomb victim's funeral held More victims identified
Mr al-Nashar's alleged link to the plot is unclear, but it was believed he handed over keys to a house in Leeds used by the bombers, said BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera.
He has completed a PhD in chemistry at Leeds University.
Police searching homes in Leeds and Buckinghamshire, a community centre and Islamic bookshop near the home of one of the bombers, Shehzad Tanweer.
Explosives made from ingredients available from high-street chemists were found in one of the Leeds homes, sources have told the BBC.
They were the same kind of explosive Richard Reid had in his shoes when he tried to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight in 2001.
The BBC has also learned a suspected al-Qaeda member entered Britain via a Channel port two weeks before the bombs, but was not kept under surveillance.
The man apparently left Britain hours before the blasts.
Met Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair said there was nothing connecting the man to the plot, but added that investigators expected to find evidence linking al-Qaeda to the attacks.
He said the four bombers were only the "foot soldiers" of the operation and the mastermind was still being sought.
"What we've got to find is, who encouraged them, who trained them, and who's the chemist," he said.
Bomber images
Muslim community leaders including Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) visited mosques, charities and schools in West Yorkshire on Friday.
The MCB delegation met with relatives of one of the suicide bombers, Mohammad Sidique Khan, in Dewsbury.
In other developments Friday:
# Forty-one bomb victims have been identified and 31 named.
# The first funeral for one of the victims took place. Shahara Islam, 20, from Plaistow, east London, was buried at a private service.
# The government plans new criminal offences of providing or receiving training in the use of hazardous substances; of acts preparatory to terrorism; and of inciting terrorism indirectly, Home Office minister Hazel Blears said.
# It emerged bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan, a teacher, met MPs Hilary Benn and Jon Trickett during his school's trip to the Palace of Westminster in July 2004.
# Victoria Line tube trains began to call at Kings Cross for the first time since the bombings.
True 'devastation' and 'remorse' would help them accept deportation.
I feel so sorry for the family. That would have been a nice day for a family outing.
Victim's family? Who cares?
They have met the enemy, and the enemy is British. Or at least has British citizenship.
They are British citizens.
As much as I hate to be cynical, what did you expect them to say? We gave lil' Hasib our full blessing & encouragement? Unfortunately, I would view any statement from a Muslim with a jaundiced eye.
Deport 'em all--just to be sure.
...So, everyone associatated is guilty, by association???
And from my debates with Brits, it seems that although the enemy is within, and he's been granted holiest of holies -- citizenship in the Anglosphere, deportation is out of the question. The UK will be hit again and again until it deports its Muslims. So with the USA.
Are you suggesting that you just sit and wait for the next attack? This is war, not a criminal act. Total war. The only reason we don't see it that way is that the media and our politicians have spun it as individual crimes.
If we don't recognize this is total war, more needless victims are certain to follow.
Where's the quote where the mom said "my greatest grief is knowing that instead of seeming him in heaven when I die, he will be spending the rest of eternity in hell".
(That was always my old man's greatest fear with me and my siblings - God rest his soul).
Whooo...that's wickedly spot on.
ALLAHU AKBAR! = HEIL HITLER! 
They go for "religious training" in Pakistan... nobody asks any questions?
A community centre becomes a well-known jihadist recruiting ground... where are the alleged moderate Muslims? Not alerting the authorities.
Now they're playing the victims, as if their child and co-religionists murdering 50+ people makes them the aggrieved party?
Given that this is a cultural, not an individual phenomenon, yes, they are all guilty of encouraging, defending, and concealing this barbarism.
I concur.
"Deport 'em all--just to be sure."
I agree.
I'm sure the family is not as devastated as the victims.
Deport them. Deport them now!
Has anyone heard of videotapes of the London bombers declaring they knew they were going to kill themselves? Palis bombers usually leave such declarations.
Perhaps that may become necesary -- until EVERYONE in their "community" gets directly involved in denying support or sanctuary and extracting the lunatics from their midst.....
EVERY member of a Mosque whose cleric is preaching Jihad -- should ABSOLUTLY be suspect and denied ANY government assistance or access to citizenship...
Semper Fi
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.