Yasin Hassan Omar

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Yasin Hassan Omar (sometimes spelt Yassin) (born January 1983) 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[1]. Police have given his age as 24[2].

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[edit] Omar's background

The BBC has reported that Omar was originally from Somalia and arrived in the UK as a child dependent of asylum seekers, in 1992. He was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2000[1]

[edit] Arrest

Omar was one of four men arrested on Wednesday 27 July 2005 at 0430 BST, in a property on Heybarnes Road, in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, England. He was then taken to London's Paddington Green police station for questioning[3].

Police used a 'Taser' stun gun to detain him. This was criticised as an incredible risk by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair, saying "If there is a bomb on that body, then the bomb is going to go off". This risk was played down by West Midlands Police, who said Sir Ian Blair did not know the full circumstances surrounding the arrest, but they still voluntarily referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission[4].

[edit] Charges

On August 6 he was charged with four criminal charges[2]:

  • On or before 21st July, conspiracy with others unknown to murder passengers on the London transport system.
  • On 21st July, attempted murder of passengers on the London transport system.
  • On or before 21st July, conspiracy with others unknown to cause explosions likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.
  • On 21st July, unlawful and malicious possession of explosives with the intent of endangering life or causing serious damage to property.

[edit] Trial

On April 28, 2006, Omar, along with his co-accused pleaded not guilty to all charges[5]. He is currently (February 2007) on trial with 5 other suspects[6].

His fiancée, Fardosa Abdullah was arrested on October 4, 2006. She is charged with assisting Omar in evading arrest and with failing to disclose information which could have led to Omar's arrest or conviction "as soon as reasonably practicable"[7].

On 9 July 2007 Yasin Hassan Omar was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder[8] and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a tariff of a minimum of forty years before being considered for release.[9]

[edit] See also


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b BBC News UK - Bombings police search seized car
  2. ^ a b BBC News UK - London bomb suspect Omar charged
  3. ^ BBC News UK - Tube bomb suspect held by police
  4. ^ BBC News UK - Police play down Taser blast risk
  5. ^ BBC News UK - Five deny July bomb plot charges
  6. ^ BBC News 21 July Bombings Trial Portal
  7. ^ BBC News UK - Woman in court over July 'plot'
  8. ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Four guilty over 21/7 bomb plot
  9. ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Four 21/7 bomb plotters get life