Naman Shrestha
Although the primary focus of Netflix’s ‘Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers’ is on the 7/7 bombing attacks that transpired in London, the second attempted bombings in London just a couple of weeks later were. As the manhunt continued after the failed attempts to detonate more public transports, the police zeroed in on Muktar Said Ibrahim, who had plans to detonate the explosive inside a bus. The four-part true crime documentary features the survivors and victims’ loved ones, all of whom talk about their respective experiences in relation to the bombing and failed bombing attempts.
Muktar Said Ibrahim Managed to Stay Hidden From the Police For a Few Days
Born on January 24, 1978, in Asmara, Eritrea, Muktar Said Ibrahim, also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, moved to the UK at the age of 12. In 1992, a couple of years later, he was granted residency and allowed to remain as a dependent. To complete his schooling, he attended Canons High School in Edgware, a suburban town in northwest London. A few years later, he had his first run-in with the law as he committed a violent crime while carrying a knife. Thus, he was convicted of robbery and sentenced to five years in prison in 1996. Soon after getting released from prison, he applied for British citizenship in November 2003. By September 2004, Muktar received his British passport.
While he lived in Stoke Newington, London, his family reportedly had no idea about his involvement in terrorist activities. According to reports, Muktar visited Pakistan in March 2005 for a while, and it was after his return to the United Kingdom that the planning for the bombing began. It was believed that detonating bombs in the transit system was not the original plan. Given the success of the attacks on July 7, 2005, Muktar and others targeted similar sites. Around 1:30 pm on July 21, 2005, he got into a bus from Waterloo to Hackney Wick carrying a deadly explosive device.
However, when the bomb failed to detonate, he fled the scene. In the following days, the police released CCTV images of all four bombers, including Muktar on the bus. Not long after, his father recognized him and informed the authorities about the same, giving his name to them. As the manhunt for the attempted bombers began, a statement was released on his family’s behalf: “The family wish to express their shock regarding recent events and in no way condone any acts of terrorism.” Following the bombing, the family maintained a distance from him. More than a week later, on July 29, the police raided a West London property belonging to Ramzi Mohammed, who had been sharing the apartment with the fugitive. Both of them were eventually arrested after throwing tear gas into the property.
With Multiple Appeals Denied, Muktar Said Ibrahim Continues to Serve His Term
In 2007, Muktar Said Ibrahim and other accused stood trial for their involvement in the second set of attempted bombings in London. On July 9 of the same year, he was finally convicted of conspiracy to murder at Woolwich Crown Court. Subsequently, he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 40 years to be served before getting eligible for parole or release. In the following years, Muktar and other attempted bombers filed various motions to get their convictions overturned. However, each time the appeals were denied. For a long time, Muktar has been serving his sentence seemingly at His Majesty’s Prison Belmarsh in London, England.
Read More: Dan Biddle: Where is the 7/7 Bombing Survivor Now?
