Three held over 7/7 attacks freed

BBC
May. 16, 2007

Three people, including the widow of 7 July bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan, have been released without charge after being questioned over the 2005 attacks.

Hasina Patel, 29, her brother Arshad Patel, 30, and Imran Motala, 22, were arrested last week.

Police can continue to question a fourth man - Khalid Khaliq, 34 - until next Monday.

The four were being held in London on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.

Anti-terror operation

The arrests on 9 May followed an intelligence-led operation involving Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command.

Police searched seven addresses in Dewsbury, Batley, Beeston in south Leeds, and Birmingham.

All four of those arrested had been taken for questioning at Paddington Green police station in London.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "In all operations some people may be released early without charge while others may remain in custody for further investigation.

"This is not unusual and is to be expected in large and complex criminal investigations."

First charges

Fifty-two people died when Sidique Khan and three other suicide bombers attacked the London transport system on 7 July 2005.

Last month the first people to be charged in connection with the bombings appeared at the Old Bailey in central London.

Mohammed Shakil, 30, Sadeer Saleem, 26, and Waheed Ali, 23, of Beeston, Leeds, are accused of conspiring with the four bombers to cause explosions.

The trio, who came before the court via a video link from prison, were remanded in custody until 8 June.