Osman Hussain
Encyclopedia
Osman Hussain (born July 23, or July 27, 1978) was found guilty of having placed an explosive at the Shepherd's Bush tube station during the failed 21 July 2005 London bombings
. Born in Ethiopia
, Hussain is a naturalised British citizen
married to Yeshshiemebet Girma
.
On 29 July 2005, he was arrested during a 40-officer raid at his brother-in-law's apartment in Rome
, after mobile phone calls led police to believe he was hiding there. He was later extradited to the UK in September under a European Arrest Warrant
and charged with attempted murder. He stood trial along with five other suspects.
Hussain was alleged to have stated: "More than praying we discussed work, politics, the war in Iraq ... we always had new films of the war in Iraq ... more than anything else those in which you could see Iraqi women and children who had been killed by US and UK soldiers."
Other news sources reported that the bombers watched videos of British and American troops killing women and children in Iraq before embarking on their mission. Some quoted him as
saying "Muktar
showed us some DVDs with images of the war in Iraq, especially women and children killed by American and British soldiers," Hussain said, adding that they were not to talk about these videos with others
"There was a feeling of hatred and conviction that it was necessary to give signal — to do something." Hussain denied links with either the Al-Qaeda or the July 7 bombers. He claimed there was no bomb in his rucksack, just ordinary flour and a detonator meant to make the loud popping sound that was heard.
of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison.
21 July 2005 London bombings
On 21 July 2005, four attempted bomb attacks disrupted part of London's public transport system two weeks after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The explosions occurred around midday at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval stations on London Underground, and on a bus in Shoreditch...
. Born in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Hussain is a naturalised British citizen
British nationality law
British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom that concerns citizenship and other categories of British nationality. The law is complex because of the United Kingdom's former status as an imperial power.-History:...
married to Yeshshiemebet Girma
Yeshshiemebet Girma
Yeshshiemebet Girma was the second person charged under the Terrorism Act over the 21 July 2005 London bombings, along with her sister Muluemebet Girma. She is married to Hamdi Adus Isaac who is suspected of attempting to detonate a bomb at Shepherd's Bush tube station...
.
On 29 July 2005, he was arrested during a 40-officer raid at his brother-in-law's apartment in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, after mobile phone calls led police to believe he was hiding there. He was later extradited to the UK in September under a European Arrest Warrant
European Arrest Warrant
The European Arrest Warrant is an arrest warrant valid throughout all member states of the European Union . Once issued by a member state, it requires the receiving member state to arrest and transfer a criminal suspect or sentenced person to the issuing state so that the person can be put on...
and charged with attempted murder. He stood trial along with five other suspects.
Claimed objectives
During the initial investigation in Rome, Hussain said he was motivated to participate in the attacks after viewing videos of war-torn Iraq. "I am against war," Osman said. "I've marched in peace rallies and nobody listened to me. I never thought of killing people." He explained that the bombs were never meant to detonate or kill anybody, only to draw attention to the Iraq war.Hussain was alleged to have stated: "More than praying we discussed work, politics, the war in Iraq ... we always had new films of the war in Iraq ... more than anything else those in which you could see Iraqi women and children who had been killed by US and UK soldiers."
Other news sources reported that the bombers watched videos of British and American troops killing women and children in Iraq before embarking on their mission. Some quoted him as
saying "Muktar
Muktar Said Ibrahim
Muktar Said Ibrahim , also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, has been found guilty of involvement in the attempted July 21 attacks on London's public transport system. He attempted to detonate a device on a London bus and was arrested sharing an apartment with the also guilty Ramzi Mohammed on 29...
showed us some DVDs with images of the war in Iraq, especially women and children killed by American and British soldiers," Hussain said, adding that they were not to talk about these videos with others
"There was a feeling of hatred and conviction that it was necessary to give signal — to do something." Hussain denied links with either the Al-Qaeda or the July 7 bombers. He claimed there was no bomb in his rucksack, just ordinary flour and a detonator meant to make the loud popping sound that was heard.
Trial and sentence
On 9 July 2007 Hussain Osman was found guilty at Woolwich Crown CourtWoolwich Crown Court
Woolwich Crown Court, located at 2 Belmarsh Road, Thamesmead is one of twelve Crown Courts serving Greater London.It stands adjacent to both HM Prison Belmarsh and Belmarsh Magistrate's Court. Operational from 1993, it has 7 courtrooms and deals with more than 750 cases a year. Until recently,...
of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison.
See also
- Jean Charles de MenezesJean Charles de MenezesJean Charles de Menezes was a Brazilian man shot in the head seven times at Stockwell tube station on the London Underground by the London Metropolitan police, after he was misidentified as one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts...
, who was killed by police after being mistaken for Hussain. - Muktar Said IbrahimMuktar Said IbrahimMuktar Said Ibrahim , also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, has been found guilty of involvement in the attempted July 21 attacks on London's public transport system. He attempted to detonate a device on a London bus and was arrested sharing an apartment with the also guilty Ramzi Mohammed on 29...
- Yasin Hassan OmarYasin Hassan OmarYasin Hassan Omar was convicted for his role in the attempted 21st July attacks on London's public transport system. He was found guilty of attempting to detonate a device on the London Underground Victoria Line tube train between Warren Street and Oxford Circus tube stations...
- Ramzi MohammedRamzi MohammedA Somali National, Ramzi Mohammed is a convicted bomber in the attempted London bombing of July 21st 2005.Ramzi is currently serving 40 years for conspiracy to murder on the Oval tube station train. He was arrested sharing an apartment with Muktar Said Ibrahim on 29 July 2005, amid allegations...
External links
- BBC News: 21 July Bombings Trial Portal
- BBC News: Charges in full
- Sky News: 'Fourth bomb supect' held in Rome
- BBC News report: 'All four' July 21 suspects held
- Associated Press: London, Rome Arrest Suspected 7-21 Bombers