Moroccan denies link to London blasts

An update on this story, from Al Jazeera.net, with thanks to Skeet Street.

A Moroccan who was given asylum in Britain and named in British media as a suspect in last week's London bombings has told Aljazeera that he is innocent and not on the run.
"I am not hiding and I am not a terrorist," said Muhammad al-Guerbouzi, speaking from London.

British media have reported that British investigators asked their European counterparts, including Europol, to search for al-Guerbouzi, 44, but Europol spokesman Rainer Wenning declined to comment on the reports.

"These are all lies. They have made up this story," al-Guerbouzi said in the interview aired late on Saturday night. He accused someone at the Moroccan embassy in London whom he refused to name of being behind the allegations that he had links to groups described as terrorist.

Al-Guerbouzi was convicted in absentia in his native Morocco in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with bombings that killed 33 bystanders and 12 bombers in Casablanca two years ago...

3 Comments

Hugh | July 10, 2005 7:25 AM

He was convicted in Morocco of acts of terrorism and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He lives, free, in England. Why?

Doctor Phibes | July 10, 2005 7:34 AM

Welcome to socialist Britain, where convicted terrorists can find a safe haven, but where criticism of the ideology that inspires them (including quoting from their 'holy' texts) will get you locked up.

miira | July 10, 2005 9:52 AM

From yesterday's article search for Moroccan,

The search for Mohammed al-Gerbouzi, who has also been linked to terrorist attacks in Madrid and Casablanca, began after he disappeared from his home in London, the report said.

The British cannot find him, yet Al Jazeera can - as today's article points out -

"I am not hiding and I am not a terrorist," said Muhammad al-Guerbouzi, speaking from London.

Hey, what's good for the goose . . .

British authorities should make no apologies and detain for investigation Mr. al-Guerbouzi as well as those providing him shelter immediately after the bombing. Al Jazeera has the most recent details of al-Guerbouzi's where abouts.

Interesting juxtaposition: CAIR director Ibrahim Hooper believes that all suspicious behavior should be investigated even if

The mosque had not received any threats

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