Hasib Hussain
Encyclopedia
Hasib Mir Hussain was one of four homegrown terrorists
who detonated bombs on three trains on the London Underground
and one bus in central London
during the 7 July 2005 London bombings
.
Hussain detonated a bomb
on the No. 30
bus that exploded in Tavistock Square
, killing 13 of the 52 people killed in the suicide bombings, and himself. Investigators found his body and personal effects on the bus. At the age of 18, he was the youngest of the group of four. The other men were Shehzad Tanweer
, Germaine Lindsay
, and Mohammad Sidique Khan
.
, West Yorkshire, Leeds
, England
the youngest of four children. His father, Mahmood, worked in a factory
, while his mother, Maniza, was an interpreter
for South Asian families at Leeds General Infirmary. At the time of the bombing, Hussain was living with his brother Imran and sister-in-law Shazia.
Hussain received his primary education
at Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck. In September 1998, he began his secondary education
at South Leeds High School
— formerly the Matthew Murray
High School. Maintaining a good attendance record, he received GCSEs in English language, English literature, maths, science, Urdu
, and design technology and a GNVQ in business
studies in 2003. Hussain went on to attend Thomas Danby College in Leeds
, earning a AVCE
in business the same year as the attacks. He was a member of the Holbeck Hornets football
team and the local cricket
team. When he left Matthew Murray High School, teachers who knew him described him as "a slow gentle giant" who "did not spread leaflets of hate-mail".
In the later half of 2003, Hussain met Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer
. The three frequented the Stratford Street mosque
in Beeston, and were also intimately associated with the Hamara Youth Access Point
, a drop-in centre for teens. Hussain was cautioned by police
for shoplifting
in 2004.
In mid-June 2005, Magdi Asdi el-Nashar, an Egypt
ian lecturer
at the University of Leeds
, rented a flat from Dr. Adnan Shukir. Hussain played the role of el-Nashar's purportedly foreign friend. Sources differ, but either Hussain's brother or the police examined Hussain's mobile phone
, which had Dr. Shukir's number in its memory. Police raided the flat, finding kilos of explosives and other evidence of a bomb-making operation.
Before Hussain went to London
with Khan and Tanweer, all three men had travelled to 18 Alexandra Grove, Hyde Park
, Leeds where the homemade explosive devices were assembled. The bombs were placed into a refrigerated box to maintain stability overnight. In the morning they travelled south towards Luton railway station, where they met up with Germaine Lindsay
, the fourth bomber, at around 7:20 am. They then made the trip towards King's Cross station.
On the day of the attacks, Hussain is believed to have intended to take the Northern Line
Train
. However, it was temporarily suspended on 7 July and so Hussain left the London Underground
system. He was captured on CCTV in a Boots
store on the concourse of King's Cross after the other bombs had gone off. Mobile phone records indicate that he had tried to telephone the other bombers. About 50 minutes after the other bombs had detonated, Hussain appears to have boarded the number 30 bus, his bomb exploding shortly thereafter: driving licence and credit cards were found in the wreckage of the bus in Tavistock Square
.
Hussain's parents contacted the Scotland Yard
emergency helpline at about 10:20 pm on 7 July to report that their son had been travelling to London with three friends and had not been heard from since.
Hussain's body was buried in a Muslim
cemetery in Leeds on 2 November 2005.
Homegrown terrorism
Homegrown terrorism is commonly associated with an international organization rather than being a ‘lone wolf’ act committed by isolated and disturbed individuals. It constitutes terrorist attacks from within the target nation, often Western...
who detonated bombs on three trains on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and one bus in central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
.
Hussain detonated a bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
on the No. 30
London Buses route 30
London Buses route 30 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:Route 30 commenced operation on 8 May 1911 between Kings Cross and Fulham Cross...
bus that exploded in Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square is a public square in Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden with a fine garden.-Public art:The centre-piece of the gardens is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which was installed in 1968....
, killing 13 of the 52 people killed in the suicide bombings, and himself. Investigators found his body and personal effects on the bus. At the age of 18, he was the youngest of the group of four. The other men were Shehzad Tanweer
Shehzad Tanweer
Shehzad Tanweer was one of four men who detonated explosives in three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombing...
, Germaine Lindsay
Germaine Lindsay
Germaine Maurice Lindsay , also known as Abdullah Shaheed Jamal, was one of the four homegrown terrorists who detonated bombs on three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombings, killing 56 people , and injuring more than 700...
, and Mohammad Sidique Khan
Mohammad Sidique Khan
Mohammad Sidique Khan was the oldest of the four homegrown suicide bombers and believed to be the leader responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings, in which bombs were detonated on three London Underground trains and one bus in central London suicide attacks, killing 52 people excluding the...
.
Biography
Hussain was born in Leeds General Infirmary and raised in HolbeckHolbeck
Holbeck is a district in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The district begins on the southern edge of the Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 Leeds postcode area. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the only motorway that passes through the area since...
, West Yorkshire, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the youngest of four children. His father, Mahmood, worked in a factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
, while his mother, Maniza, was an interpreter
Interpreting
Language interpretation is the facilitating of oral or sign-language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between users of different languages...
for South Asian families at Leeds General Infirmary. At the time of the bombing, Hussain was living with his brother Imran and sister-in-law Shazia.
Hussain received his primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
at Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck. In September 1998, he began his secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
at South Leeds High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
— formerly the Matthew Murray
Matthew Murray
Matthew Murray was an English steam engine and machine tool manufacturer, who designed and built the first commercially viable steam locomotive, the twin cylinder Salamanca in 1812...
High School. Maintaining a good attendance record, he received GCSEs in English language, English literature, maths, science, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, and design technology and a GNVQ in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
studies in 2003. Hussain went on to attend Thomas Danby College in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, earning a AVCE
Avce
Avče is a settlement on the left bank of the river Soča in the Kanal Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.The Parish Church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Martin and belongs to the Diocese of Koper. A second church built above the village in the Nadavče area is dedicated to Our...
in business the same year as the attacks. He was a member of the Holbeck Hornets football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team and the local cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team. When he left Matthew Murray High School, teachers who knew him described him as "a slow gentle giant" who "did not spread leaflets of hate-mail".
In the later half of 2003, Hussain met Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer
Shehzad Tanweer
Shehzad Tanweer was one of four men who detonated explosives in three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombing...
. The three frequented the Stratford Street mosque
Stratford Street mosque
Stratford Street Mosque is a mosque in Beeston, Leeds, England.Three people responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings were regulars at Friday prayers at the mosque. The mosque is close to the home of Tanweer, who caused the Aldgate explosion...
in Beeston, and were also intimately associated with the Hamara Youth Access Point
Hamara Youth Access Point
The Hamara Youth Access Point is a drop-in centre for teens in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, operated by the Hamara Healthy Living Centre, an Islamic charity partly funded by the UK government...
, a drop-in centre for teens. Hussain was cautioned by police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
for shoplifting
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
in 2004.
London bombings
There were media reports that Hussain had travelled to Pakistan in February 2004, but these appear to be a case of mistaken identity.In mid-June 2005, Magdi Asdi el-Nashar, an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, rented a flat from Dr. Adnan Shukir. Hussain played the role of el-Nashar's purportedly foreign friend. Sources differ, but either Hussain's brother or the police examined Hussain's mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
, which had Dr. Shukir's number in its memory. Police raided the flat, finding kilos of explosives and other evidence of a bomb-making operation.
Before Hussain went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with Khan and Tanweer, all three men had travelled to 18 Alexandra Grove, Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Leeds
Hyde Park is an inner-city area of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, situated between the University of Leeds and Headingley.It is mainly in the Hyde Park & Woodhouse ward, though some areas of what is often considered to be Hyde Park lie within the Headingley Ward . The boundary is...
, Leeds where the homemade explosive devices were assembled. The bombs were placed into a refrigerated box to maintain stability overnight. In the morning they travelled south towards Luton railway station, where they met up with Germaine Lindsay
Germaine Lindsay
Germaine Maurice Lindsay , also known as Abdullah Shaheed Jamal, was one of the four homegrown terrorists who detonated bombs on three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombings, killing 56 people , and injuring more than 700...
, the fourth bomber, at around 7:20 am. They then made the trip towards King's Cross station.
On the day of the attacks, Hussain is believed to have intended to take the Northern Line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
Train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
. However, it was temporarily suspended on 7 July and so Hussain left the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
system. He was captured on CCTV in a Boots
Boots UK
Boots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
store on the concourse of King's Cross after the other bombs had gone off. Mobile phone records indicate that he had tried to telephone the other bombers. About 50 minutes after the other bombs had detonated, Hussain appears to have boarded the number 30 bus, his bomb exploding shortly thereafter: driving licence and credit cards were found in the wreckage of the bus in Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square
Tavistock Square is a public square in Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden with a fine garden.-Public art:The centre-piece of the gardens is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which was installed in 1968....
.
Hussain's parents contacted the Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
emergency helpline at about 10:20 pm on 7 July to report that their son had been travelling to London with three friends and had not been heard from since.
Hussain's body was buried in a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
cemetery in Leeds on 2 November 2005.
See also
- Shehzad TanweerShehzad TanweerShehzad Tanweer was one of four men who detonated explosives in three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombing...
, AldgateAldgateAldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
train - Germaine LindsayGermaine LindsayGermaine Maurice Lindsay , also known as Abdullah Shaheed Jamal, was one of the four homegrown terrorists who detonated bombs on three trains on the London Underground and one bus in central London during the 7 July 2005 London bombings, killing 56 people , and injuring more than 700...
, Piccadilly LinePiccadilly LineThe Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
train - Mohammad Sidique KhanMohammad Sidique KhanMohammad Sidique Khan was the oldest of the four homegrown suicide bombers and believed to be the leader responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings, in which bombs were detonated on three London Underground trains and one bus in central London suicide attacks, killing 52 people excluding the...
, Edgware Road train