Police released closed-circuit TV footage on Tuesday showing three of the suspected London suicide bombers on what detectives believe was a reconnaissance trip less than two weeks before the deadly July 7 attacks.
The June 28 images show the three entering the Luton train station north of the capital, arriving at London’s King’s Cross station and entering the Underground system. Detectives located the images after finding train tickets and receipts indicating the timing of the trip.
The trip followed the same route the suspects are believed to have taken on the day of the bombings that killed 52 victims and themselves, police said.
The visit “might suggest the suspects were carrying out reconnaissance of potential targets on the London transport system and checking the time of the journey they intended to take on the day of the attack,” London’s Metropolitan Police said.
“Other cases here and abroad have suggested that terrorists do visit possible targets as part of their planning, checking layouts, timings and security before carrying out attacks,” police said.
Police said they also had footage showing the three at the Baker Street subway station, close to one of the bombing sites.
'Missing three hours could be vital'
The men — Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shahzad Tanweer and Germaine Lindsay — spent about three hours in London and may have split up during that time, police said. Investigators said they were still searching closed circuit tapes for more information about what the suspects did in the city.
“We really need to know, did they meet anyone else? What else did they do during that time?” Peter Clarke, head of the police anti-terrorist branch, said in a television interview. “Those missing three hours could be vital.”
The video did not show the fourth suspected bomber, Hasib Hussain, who allegedly blew up a red double-decker bus. He may have intended to attack a Northern Line train but hit the bus instead because a mechanical problem had shut part of the line.
Assistant Police Commissioner Andy Hayman said police were searching about 80,000 closed circuit recordings as part of their investigation, which he called “a colossal undertaking.”
Among the 15 sites detectives have searched is a landfill in West Yorkshire, where examinations are still going on, Clarke said.
