Sleuths raid Leeds flat over 7/7 London attacks

London: Counter-terrorism detectives raided a flat in Leeds on Wednesday as part of the continuing investigation into the July 7, 2005, suicide bomb attacks on the city.

However, there has been no arrests and the flat's current owner has not being linked to the investigation.

Police said the action was to determine whether there were any links between the one-bedroom property in the Harehills area and the 4 men who killed 52 commuters in the London bombings.

Three of the bombers: Mohammad Seddiqi Khan, Shehzad Tanweer and Hasib Hussain came from the Beeston area of Leeds, which was also the location for the men's bomb factory.

"While it is more than three years since the attacks, this remains a painstaking investigation and as we have previously said we are determined to identify anyone who knew what was being planned," said John McDowall, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command.

"As a result of our inquiries, we are carrying out an extensive search of the flat to determine whether there are any links to the people responsible for the 7/7 attacks," he added.

The raid took place around 7am (11am, UAE time) and a few hours later, boards were erected around the property. Police said the search at the property was likely to take several days.

Detectives said they were also renewing appeals for any information from the local community that could prove useful in their investigation and were planning to carry out house-to-house inquiries.

Hunt is on

"I would urge anyone who has suspicions about activity in the flat, either in the months leading up to the 7/7 attacks or afterwards, to contact the police," McDowall said.

Khan, Tanweer, Hussain and Jermaine Lindsay blew up three underground trains and a bus using homemade, hydrogen peroxide-based bombs.

Senior officers have always maintained that the 7/7 bombers had assistance from other people with links to Al Qaida, as they would not have had the technical expertise to make the devices themselves.

Sleuths said they believed there were people who might have information, but so far remained silent.

Earlier this year, three men went on trial accused of helping to plot the attacks, but a jury failed to reach a verdict on the charges against them.