London bombing suspect still in custody: Zambian police

Zambian police said Tuesday that Haroon Aswat, the Indian-Briton arrested on July 20 in the capital city Lusaka for being linked with the London suicide bombers, was still in custody of Zambian security forces.

"What I can assure you is that Aswat is still being held in Zambia by security forces," Zambian police Inspector General Ephraim Mateyo told journalists at a press conference here on Tuesday afternoon.

"We are still in the investigation and the nation will be told when we are through the investigation," Mateyo said, noting that the investigation would take long and details would be given later.

He denied earlier reports that Aswat used to work as a body guard for al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

He also warned those who intended to come to Zambia and commit crime "at risk", saying security measures are being already in place and are very tight.

Aswat caught the attention of police when it was discovered that some 20 calls have been placed from his cell phone to some of the four suicide bombers ahead of the July 7 London blasts, which killed 56 people including the four bombers.

In a statement issued earlier on Saturday, Mateyo said the British authorities were duly informed on the arrest of Aswat in Zambia, and the two governments were cooperating accordingly.

Source: Xinhua