Egyptian Minister Says Detained Biochemist 'Has No Al-Qaeda Link'

16 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Egypt's Interior Minister is reported as saying that an Egyptian man being questioned over the London bombings is not linked to Al-Qaeda.
The Egyptian newspaper "al-Gomhuria" today cited Habib el-Adil as saying that Western and Arab media were hasty in linking 33- year-old biochemist Magdy Elnashar to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Elnashar, who denies any involvement in the 7 July London bombings, was detained in Cairo and is being questioned by Egyptian authorities.

British newspapers said Elnashar had rented the house in the northern English town of Leeds that was raided by police on 12 July. Police said several kilograms of potentially dangerous chemicals were found there.

The death toll from the London attacks rose to 55 today after another victim died overnight.

(Reuters)