Terror suspect studied at Queen's University

Britain: The terror suspect fighting for his life after the car-bomb attack on Glasgow airport last weekend had studied at Queen…

Britain:The terror suspect fighting for his life after the car-bomb attack on Glasgow airport last weekend had studied at Queen's University Belfast, it emerged yesterday.

Kafeel Ahmed (27) was transferred to a specialist burns unit yesterday.

It was initially thought he was a medical doctor. However, it emerged yesterday that he has a doctorate in aeronautical engineering and had studied at Queen's and at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge.

From Bangalore in India, Ahmed began his studies in Belfast in 2001 and remained in Northern Ireland until 2004.

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It is understood he lived in rented accommodation with other students in Hampton Place, close to the university.

The Times of Indiareported that he completed an MPhil in aeronautical engineering in 2003.

He then studied for a PhD in computational fluid dynamics at the department of design and technology of Anglia Polytechnic University.

A spokesman for Queen's university said he was unable to comment.

But a spokeswoman from Anglia Ruskin University, formerly Anglia Polytechnic, said: "We are aware of media speculation about possible links between recent events at Glasgow airport and one of our research students.

"We are co-operating fully with the police in their inquiries." Ahmed doused himself in petrol and set light to himself at the airport last Saturday.

He is thought to have been the driver of the four-wheel-drive vehicle which burst into flames as it was rammed into the airport terminal building. Ahmed told his family in Bangalore in May that he had taken up a "highly confidential" freelance assignment with a friend.

"I am involved in a large-scale confidential job. It is about global warming and involves travelling," the 28-year-old aeronautical engineer is believed to have told his mother and sister before leaving for the UK on May 5th.

The project, he declared, was to begin in the UK and after launching it Kafeel said he would return home to Bangalore and continue monitoring it.

"Various people from various countries are involved. There is an Indian with me (on this project) and he is helping me out," he said. Kafeel's younger brother Sabeel, a doctor in Liverpool, had also been detained for questioning.

Kafeel added that he would be out of touch with his family at some point for a week. He asked them not to worry.

Eight people have been arrested over the bomb plots in the UK and Australia. Six of those arrested are being held at London's Paddington Green police station

- (Additional reporting PA)