Shehzad Tanweer
Shehzad Tanweer (15 December 1982 – 7 July 2005)[1] was one of four Al Qaeda[2] terrorists who exploded bombs in three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombings.[3] 56 people were killed and over 700 hurt in the attacks.[4]
Shehzad Tanweer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 December 1982 Bradford, West Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 7 July 2005 (aged 22) |
| Alma mater | Leeds Beckett University |
Tanweer was named by Scotland Yard as the man who exploded a bomb while travelling towards the east on the Circle Line between Liverpool Street and Aldgate, killing both himself and seven of the 56 killed in total in the attacks.[5] The other three men were found out to be Hasib Hussain, Germaine Lindsay, and Mohammad Sidique Khan. They all died in the explosions they set off.[4]
Video statement
changeOn 6 July 2006, a video statement by Tanweer was published by Al-Jazeera. In the video, which included statements by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, Tanweer said:
"What have you witnessed now is only the beginning of a string of attacks that will continue and become stronger until you pull your forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq. And until you stop your financial and military support to America and Israel." Tanweer argued that the non-Muslims of Britain deserve such attacks because they voted for a government which "continues to oppress our mothers, children, brothers and sisters in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya" [6][7]
Tanweer's statements was clearer in making this link with British foreign policy than Mohammad Sidique Khan, the person thought to be the lead bomber.[8] The video has also served to confirm thoughts that both Khan and Tanweer had contact with Ayman Al-Zawahiri and other senior figures in the Al-Qaeda organisation while in Dubai.[9]
London bombing
changeA few days before the bombing, Tanweer rented a red Nissan Micra from a local car-rental agency.[10] His hair was also bleached due to the hydrogen peroxide he was using prior to the attack.[11]
On 7 July, Tanweer, Khan, Hussain, and Lindsay are believed to have picked up the bombs from a house in the Leeds, hiding them in their rucksacks, then to have driven to Luton, Bedfordshire in the red Nissan, which he left parked in Luton railway station car park.[12][10] In Luton, the men went on the 07:23 Thameslink train, arriving at King's Cross in London at around 08.20 hours, where they went different ways and exploded their bombs.[13]
The three London underground bombs exploded within 60 seconds of each other at 8:50 a.m.[14]Tanweer travelled towards the east on the Circle line from Kings Cross, exploding his bomb on train number 204 between Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations, also killing at least seven people. The police found his body parts in the carriage he blew up.[5]
After the bombings, police found other bombs in Tanweer's car, which would be dealt with by an explosive police team.[15][16]
References
change- ↑ "Jane's Terrorism and Security Monitor". Jane's Information Group. 6 December 2018 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "July 7 Bombers Tied To Al Qaeda". CBS News. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "7/7 bombings: Profiles of the four bombers who killed 52 people in the London attacks". The Independent. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "7/7: London comes together to remember and reflect 10 years on". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bennetto, Jason; Herbert, Ian (13 July 2005). "From Leeds to London via Luton: the deadly mission of a suicide squad". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
- ↑ Fresco, Adam; McGrory, Daniel; Norfolk, Andrew (6 July 2006). "Video of London suicide bomber released". Times Online. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
- ↑ "Video of 7 July bomber released". BBC News. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
- ↑ "Profile: Mohammad Sidique Khan". 2 March 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ Oneill, Sean (6 July 2006). "Analysis Tanweer video gives credence to alQaeda link". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Hours before 7/7, bomber is picture of calm". The Independent. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "Seven lessons from 7/7". The Guardian. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "Revealed: Inside the Leeds bomb factory where 7/7 terrorists plotted". Yorkshire Post. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "7 July London bombings - Timeline". BBC News. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "London 7/7 terrorist attacks". British Library. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ "Police search two 'bomber' cars". BBC News. 13 July 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ↑ Bennetto, Jason; Ian Herbert (13 July 2005). "The suicide bomb plot hatched in Yorkshire". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2021.