Police Granted Extra Time To Quiz Parsons Green Bomb Suspects

Police Granted Extra Time To Quiz Parsons Green Bomb Suspects
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Detectives have been granted more time to question two young men held in raids over the Parsons Green terror attack.

An 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old, identified by his employers as Yahyah Farroukh, were arrested on Saturday over Friday morning’s bomb attack on a London Underground train.

Scotland Yard said magistrates had granted warrants allowing the 18-year-old to be held until Saturday September 23, and Farroukh until Thursday September 21.

The men, understood to be from Iraq and Syria respectively, are believed to have both been fostered by the same British couple.

The news came as fresh CCTV footage that appears to show the Parsons Green bomb suspect on his way to plant his homemade device, was discovered.

The video obtained by the Press Association shows a figure dressed in grey carrying a distinctive white Lidl carrier bag around 80 minutes before the explosion that injured 29 people.

The footage was obtained from a camera outside Ecco La Vera pizzeria in Vicarage Road in Sunbury-on-Thames.

Both Farroukh and the 18-year-old man, understood to be the suspected bomber, are believed to have spent time in foster care with Penelope and Ronald Jones, aged 71 and 88 respectively, who previously received MBEs for services to children and families.

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Police at a cordon on Cavendish Road, in Sunbury-on-Thames (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “They both remain in custody at a south London police station.

“Searches are continuing at two addresses in Surrey and a commercial property in Hounslow in connection with this ongoing investigation.”

Farroukh was arrested after he finished his shift at a fried chicken shop in Hounslow, west London.

Video obtained by The Sun appeared to show forensic officers gathering evidence as he was held against the shutters of the neighbouring pharmacy.

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The incident took place on Friday (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

According to his Facebook profile, Farroukh is originally from Damascus and living in London, having studied English at West Thames College.

Suleman Sarwar, 43, who owns Aladdin’s Fried Chicken in Kingsley Road, Hounslow, with his brothers, said “very normal” Farroukh worked at the takeaway and was arrested outside the shop after his shift at around 11.30pm.

He said: “It was at that point that the police all grabbed him.”

Asked if police had been staking out the shop, Mr Sarwar said “I suspect so”, but said he was not aware of any operations.

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Emergency services outside Parsons Green station in west London (Stefan Rousseau)

The takeaway owner added he was sure Farroukh was Syrian because of his distinctive dialect.

Mr Sarwar said police had taken CCTV recordings from the shop on Sunday and carried out a search of the property.

Farroukh’s home in Stanwell, Surrey, was searched by police on Sunday, after armed officers raided the Jones’ home in Sunbury-on-Thames on Saturday.