Radical cleric ‘instructed’ suicide bomb Britons

It has emerged that a radical Muslim cleric had taught two Britons who Israeli authorities believe carried out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

It is reported that Sheik Omar Bakri, a member of the radical Al-Mahajiroun group, has said he instructed the two men.

The Israeli government said that it believed that a suicide bomber who killed three people in Tel Aviv was a British citizen – the first time a UK national has been responsible for such an outrage.

The suicide bomber, identified by Israeli authorities as Asif Muhammed Hanif, detonated a bomb at around 1am (local time) at a pub at a popular Tel Aviv waterfront promenade. In addition to three deaths, a further 60 were injured.

Israel has also identified a second UK citizen from Derby, 27-year-old Omar Khan Sharif, as a second member of the bomb team who fled the scene after his device failed to explode. The second bomber struggled with bystanders before dropping his malfunctioning explosive device and fleeing the scene.

Security forces believe that the pair entered Israel from the Gaza Strip a few hours prior to the attack.

Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Tanzim-Fatah declared joint responsibility for the suicide bombing.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was horrified at what he described as a "totally unjustified attack".

The bombing occurred on the same day that the Palestinian authorities agreed a new prime minister and cabinet – and paving the way for negotiations on the US-backed 'Road Map' for peace.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said there was no evidence of a rise in militant fundamentalism in the UK and in the past has criticised Al-Muhajiroun as an inflammatory influence.

MCB Secretary General Iqbal Sacranie, condemned the bombing, saying “the loss of innocent life is against the laws of humanity”.

However, this form of extremism is not alien to Britons. In 2001, Richard Reid, from London, was arrested by US officials after he tried to detonate a shoe-bomb on a flight from Paris to Miami. He has since been sentenced to life imprisonment in the States.

Controversial teacher Shiekh Abu Hamza, who preached at north London's Finsbury Park mosque, is currently facing a deportation order for actions contrary to Britain's "national interests".

(SP)