7/7 link to terror suspect's Brum home

May 13 2007 By Jeanette Oldham

A BIRMINGHAM terror suspect was arrested just days after a relative of the 7/7 suicide bombings mastermind visited his family home, it was claimed last night.

Imran Motala, 22, from Lozells, Birmingham, was being questioned by anti-terrorist detectives last night at London's high-security Paddington Green police station.

He and three other people from West Yorkshire including Hasina Patel, the widow of 7/7 ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan, were arrested in early morning raids on Wednesday.

All four are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Police believe that sales rep Motala is related to Hasina Patel whose brother, Arshad, was also held in the raids.

The Sunday Mercury has learned how Motala's Birmingham home was recently visited by the mother of the Yorkshire siblings.

A cousin of the Birmingham suspect said: "Imran's dad Salem is a cousin of Hasina Patel's mum, Farida.

"Farida came to visit the family last week and that could be why Imran has been arrested.

"The whole family was questioned but only Imran was taken away. They are all extremely upset and frightened.

"They feel humiliated by this. There's no way Imran could have been involved. He's not religious at all and goes out clubbing a lot.

"His parents aren't even that religious - they don't go to prayers.

"They think the police must have been watching Farida for months and they are wondering if they were watched as well."

Motala, an arts graduate from UCE, was arrested at the Birmingham University Halls of Residence in Selly Oak, where his girlfriend was living.

Officers also took away his girlfriend's car, a silver Peugeot 307. Eight policemen also went to his parents' house in Leonard Road and the family's silver Vauxhall Astra was towed away.

It has been reported that officers are investigating whether Hasina Patel, a 29 year-old mother-of-one, had knowledge that her husband was plotting carnage in London.

Detectives are also investigating whether she played an active role in the preparation of the attacks, which claimed 52 lives.

It is understood that detectives have analysed mobile phone records, including text messages, of suspected accomplices.

They have also carried out cell-site analysis of mobile phones in an attempt to trace the movements of those suspected of being part of a support network in the run-up to the attacks.

Last month three men, all from Leeds, were charged with conspiring with the four 7/7 suicide bombers to cause explosions.