(ANSA) - The United Kingdom will seek the unconditional extradition of a key suspect in the failed
July 21 terror attacks on London, the country's Italian lawyer said on Tuesday.
Speaking a day ahead of an extradition hearing for Hamdi Issac, Paolo Iorio said that London would not be satisfied with a temporary transfer and would push for his unconditional handover.
"Hamdi has done nothing in Italy apart from being in possession of a false passport," he told reporters. "Is this really enough to block proceedings regarding the most serious charges of terrorism in England?"
Issac is due to appear before a three-judge panel on Wednesday at 9:30am, which will have to take a parallel investigation by Rome prosecutors into account. The panel could refuse the British extradition request if Rome prosecutors decide to press their own terrorism charges against Issac.
But if the Italian probe is not yet complete - as appears likely - the panel might instead order his
provisional transfer, on condition that he is returned if Rome investigators decide to prosecute. They have already obtained his preventive custody on suspicion of belonging to or associating with an
Italian-based network of international terrorists but have yet to proceed to formal charges.
The chief Rome prosecutor on the case, Alberto Cozzella, has said he would agree to a temporary extradition, so long as Issac was returned to Italy afterwards if necessary. Traditionally, judicial authorities could refuse to hand over a suspect awaiting trial in Italy. But Iorio pointed to a recent ruling by the country's highest appeals court, the Court of Cassation, which appeared to overturn this practice.
"Furthermore, we believe this decision - which allows the extradition of people that have already been charged with a crime - wouldn't even affect this case, as Hamdi is still only under investigation and hasn't been charged yet," said the lawyer representing Britain. "This makes us believe we will obtain an unconditional extradition."
The Ethiopian-born Issac, who was last week questioned by Scotland Yard officials at a central Rome jail, has freely admitted his involvement in the July 21 attacks. But he insists that the explosions, in which no one was injured, were not intended to hurt anyone. They were merely meant to make a "big bang' and frighten people", his court-appointed lawyer said.
He claims that his rucksack contained nothing more than flour, nails and weedkiller. British authorities have meanwhile charged four other men in connection with the action. They were remanded in custody last week and their trial date has been fixed for November 14.
The July 21 attack came exactly two weeks after a terrorist action on London's transport system that killed 56 people, including the four suicide bombers responsible. Britain is seeking Issac's extradition in connection with the failed attack near Shepherd's Bush station, in West London.
The three-judge panel is expected to issue its ruling on Issac's extradition by Wednesday evening.
Issac, 27, has said he will appeal to Italy's supreme court if the panel decides to extradite him. The extradition request has been filed using the European arrest warrant, which came into effect in Italy in
May.
As he is fighting the extradition, Italian authorities have up to 90 days to reach their decision. Issac's lawyer, Antonietta Sonnessa, has said he would be more likely to receive a fair trial in Italy, owing to the emotionally charged nature of the investigation in London. Issac, who is also known as Osman Hussain, was arrested on July 29 in Rome, at the home of his brother, Ramzi, who runs an Ethiopian clothing shop in the capital. Ramzi is also being held at Regina Coeli prison while a third brother, Fethi, is being detained in Brescia.
