Bomb suspect: 'No 7/7, al Qaeda links'

Bomb suspect: 'No 7/7, al Qaeda links'

Sunday, July 31, 2005; Posted: 11:37 a.m. EDT (15:37 GMT)

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The failed July 21 bombings in London were not
linked to the lethal attacks of July 7 or al Qaeda, a bombing suspect
in Italian custody has told his interrogators, sources close to the
investigation told CNN.

Hussain Osman, who is also known as Hamdi Issac, said the four men
who partially detonated backpack bombs before running from their
targets on July 21 were not working with the July 7 bombers who
killed themselves and 52 commuters on three London Underground trains
and a bus, the sources said.

Osman also claimed the July 21 group was not working for al Qaeda,
the Islamic terrorist organization behind the September 11, 2001,
terror attacks on the United States, last year's Madrid train
bombings and numerous atrocities worldwide.

Further, the sources said, Osman told authorities the bombs were
meant to draw attention to anger over the war in Iraq and not to kill
anyone.