Egyptian jailed in London attacks

LEEDS, England — Police in Cairo detained a biochemist who studied in the United States and taught at a university in Leeds — the home base for at least three of the London bombers. Investigators in Britain raided an Islamic book shop and the Egyptian's home, searching for explosives and other evidence Friday.

In another sign of the investigation's widening global reach, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said authorities were trying to determine whether any of the four "foot soldiers" — suicide bombers who ranged in age from 18 to 30 — had ties with Pakistan-based cells of the al-Qaida terror network.

In an interview with BBC radio, Blair said the inquiry was focusing on the organizers of the four London suicide attacks, which killed 54 people, and confirmed police were focusing on a Pakistan connection. Three of the bombers — Shahzad Tanweer, Mohammed Sidique Khan and Hasid Hussain — were Britons of Pakistani origin. At least two had traveled to Pakistan.

Blair said that a man who was on Britain's terrorism watch list had entered the country but was not put under surveillance.

In an apparent slip by British intelligence, the unidentified man was able to leave the country in the days before the bombings.

"With this particular man, there is nothing at the moment that links him directly," Blair said.

Two senior Pakistani intelligence officials said Friday that authorities in that country were looking into a possible connection between Tanweer and two al-Qaida-linked militant groups, and specifically a man arrested for a 2002 attack on a church near the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

The July 7 suicide bombings had political ramifications at home as well: the British government announced plans Friday to make it a crime to provide or receive training in the use of explosives in new anti-terror legislation being considered in the wake of the attack.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears, in a letter to opposition parties, said the proposed legislation would also outlaw "indirect incitement" of terrorism, including praising those who carry out attacks. The bill will also propose outlawing "acts preparatory to terrorism," she said.

Police on Friday raided a shop called Iqra Learning Centre in Beeston, a Leeds neighborhood. The shop appeared to sell Islamic books and DVDs and offer seminars and presentations.