London: A man claimed by an Al-Qaeda-linked website to be behind bomb blasts in Sweden studied and lived in Britain, reports said on Monday.
Taymour Abdel Wahab, identified by website Shumukh al-Islam as the man behind two bomb blasts in Stockholm on Saturday, reportedly studied at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton, north of London.
A man suspected of being the bomber was killed in Saturday's blasts, while a separate explosion nearby injured two people. The explosions took place as Christmas shoppers packed the city centre.
Taymour Abdel Wahab studied at the university and continued to live in the town, around 50 kilometres north of London, in recent years, reported The Guardian, The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph.The wife and children of Taymour Abdel Wahab said to be in his late 20s were reportedly still living in Luton.
"I used to see him around often. He didn't say much but seemed nice. I used to see him walking with his kids," Tahir Hussain, 33, a taxi driver who lives nearby told The Telegraph."I was shocked when I heard what happened because I never thought he could do such a thing."
Britain's Home Office, or interior ministry, refused to comment on the reports."We remain in close contact with the Swedish authorities," a spokeswoman told AFP. "It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation at this time."Website Shumukh al-Islam said, "It is our brother, mujahid Taymour Abdel Wahab, who carried out the martyrdom operation in Stockholm."
The site also published a photograph of a man in dark glasses and Western clothes that it said was him.But the Swedish intelligence agency Saepo has refused to confirm or deny that the man identified by the website was the bomber.
Sweden said yesterday it was investigating a "terrorist crime." Anders Thornberg, head of the security unit of domestic intelligence Saepo, said: "We suspect that it was a suicide attack." AFP
