An Egyptian chemistry expert sought by police in connection with the London bombings was arrested in Cairo yesterday, as Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair predicted that the continuing international investigation would establish "a clear al-Qaeda link". Frank Millar, London Editor, reports
Sir Ian's prediction - coupled with a fresh warning about the "very strong possibility" of further terror strikes in Britain - came as it was disclosed that a suspected al-Qaeda member who entered Britain via a Channel port two weeks before the London bombings was not placed under surveillance.
The Cairo arrest of Magdi Mahmoud al-Nashar (33) came as police continued to search a house with which he has been linked in Leeds. British investigators are believed to have joined the Egyptian authorities questioning Mr al-Nashar, who has not been seen by colleagues in Leeds since early July.
Egypt's interior ministry said Mr al-Nashar denied having any connection to the London bombings. Like the four suspected London suicide bombers, it is understood he had not previously come to the attention of the security services.
Sir Ian yesterday described the four as being only "the foot soldiers" of the terrorist operation, while the hunt continued for those who masterminded them. "What we've got to find is who encouraged them, who trained them, and who's the chemist," he said.
While police continued searching houses in Leeds and Buckinghamshire, the BBC reported that explosives found in one of the homes in Leeds were made from ingredients available from high-street chemists, and of the same kind Richard Reid had in his shoes when he attempted to blow up a transatlantic flight in 2001.
Downing Street declined to be drawn on Sir Ian's acknowledgment that an al-Qaeda suspect had not been kept under surveillance, despite the fact that he was on a watch list, because he was not considered a high enough priority.
The prime minister's spokesman said they were not prepared to get into "a blame game", while adding that the government had consistently said they would be discussing with police and the security services what extra powers and resources might be needed.
Those questions will top the agenda when Mr Blair presides at a security summit in Downing Street next Thursday with anti-terror police chiefs and the heads of all the security agencies. On Monday week the prime minister will discuss the outcome of that summit with opposition leaders Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy.
With parliament rising next week for the long summer recess, MPs are on notice that they could be recalled if new powers are deemed necessary.
On Monday home secretary Charles Clarke will meet his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts to seek their support for new measures announced last night to enable the prosecution of those engaged in actions preparatory to terrorism; those providing or receiving training at terrorist training camps in Britain or abroad; and those "glorifying" terrorist acts.
Ahead of Tuesday's summit meeting with British Muslim leaders, which Mr Howard and Mr Kennedy will attend, Mr Blair will use a speech to Labour's policy forum this morning to stress the need to "win the battle of ideas" over those inspiring terrorist attacks around the world.
As the death toll from the London bombings rose to 54, Sir Ian told worshippers at the Minhaj-ul-Quran mosque in Forest Gate yesterday they must "seize a moment in which the Muslim community changes from your position of shock and disbelief into active engagement in counterterrorism".
The family of suicide bomber Hasib Hussain last night spoke of their "devastation" and described their son as "a loving and normal young man".
In a statement issued through West Yorkshire Police, they expressed their disbelief that the 18-year-old was involved in the bus attack which left 14 dead. "Hasib was a loving and normal young man who gave us no concern, and we are having difficulty taking this in," his family said.