ITALY: An Italian judge ruled yesterday that the extradition hearing for the London bombing suspect arrested in Rome should be held on August 17th, six weeks ahead of the deadline under the EU's new fast-track procedures. His defence lawyer said she expected an initial ruling the same day.
The decision represents a victory for British officials who have pressed for speed.
Hussein Osman, a British citizen known in Italy as Hamdi Issac, is wanted for questioning in connection with the botched attack on Shepherd's Bush tube station in London on July 21st.
The judge had indicated the hearing could slip into early September, and anti-terrorist prosecutors at first said they needed time to decide whether to press charges in Italy.
According to his lawyer, the 27-year-old, Ethiopian-born suspect does not want to return to Britain, so it is highly likely there will be an appeal if the ruling goes against him.
The biggest formal obstacle remains a case brought against Mr Hussein by Rome prosecutors under anti-terrorist legislation that would normally give them precedence. Pietro Saviotti, one of two prosecutors dealing with the case, said yesterday it would "neither hamper nor delay" Scotland Yard's investigation. But he speculated on a possible temporary extradition.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man appeared in court in London yesterday charged with failing to give police information which could have led to the arrest of Mr Hussein. Ismael Abdurahman is accused of withholding information about Mr Hussein, whom detectives believe attempted to trigger a device on board a tube train at Shepherd's Bush, west London. - (Guardian service)