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| Extradition Hearing Set for London Bomb Suspect in Rome for Aug. 17 |
| 2005-08-04 |
| ROME (AP) - An extradition hearing has been set for Aug. 17 for the London bombing suspect jailed here, and a decision on Britain's request for him could come that day, the suspect's lawyer said Thursday. Hamdi Issac was arrested Friday in Rome at the home of his brother a few days after slipping through a London dragnet set up in that city after the botched July 21 bombing attempts of three subway trains and a bus. Issac's lawyer, Antonietta Sonnessa, told The Associated Press it was likely the judge would make a decision at the Aug. 17 hearing. The court-appointed lawyer has said Issac wants to stay in Italy, suggesting he would oppose being sent to Britain, but no formal opposition was lodged during preliminary proceedings on the extradition request a few days ago. Many extradition requests in Italy take weeks or even months before a judge rules, but Britain has been pressing Rome for Issac's return as it cracks down on terrorism following deadly July 7 mass transit bombings in London. Rome Prosecutor Pietro Saviotti has said Italian investigators are looking into any possible crimes committed in Italy by the Ethiopian-born Issac, a British citizen. But the prosecutor dismissed any idea that the Italian probe would block extradition. Issac has told Italian authorities he brought a bag with explosives into the subway on July 21, but has insisted to his interrogators that the attack was meant to grab attention, not injure anyone, according to Sonnessa. |
| Posted by:Steve |