Egypt questions biochemist on UK attacks
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-16 21:10

Two investigators wearing white protective suits were seen inside the store before officers covered the windows with gray plastic sheeting. The immediate area remained cordoned off.

The shop is about four miles from Egyptian chemist Magdy Mahmoud Mustafa el-Nashar's town house, where British news media reported that police found evidence of the explosive TATP inside a bathtub. Police continued searching the house Saturday from behind large black and white sheets draped from scaffolding.

TATP was used by Richard Reid, whose attempt to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001 with explosives in his shoes was thwarted. Reid pleaded guilty to U.S. charges and is serving life in prison.

Egypt's Interior Ministry announced Friday that Egyptian authorities were interrogating el-Nashar, who had studied for one semester at North Carolina State University and taught at Leeds University, where he earned his doctorate in May. It said el-Nashar denied having any connection to the attacks.

An Egyptian government official said el-Nashar, 33, was arrested in Cairo on Sunday or Monday after British officials informed Egypt of their interest in him. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was giving information not in the official ministry announcement.

But el-Nashar's youngest brother, Mohammed, said he was arrested Thursday when he went to a local mosque to pray but didn't return.

In London, Ian Blair said British authorities would seek his extradition, if need be, although the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.

A security official in Cairo said Britain was pressing Egypt to hand over el-Nashar, but Egypt was trying to determine if there was enough evidence against him to do so. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not authorized for official release.

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