Shropshire Star

Police granted extra time to quiz Parsons Green bomb suspects

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

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Stanwell, Surrey

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 on Monday night that magistrates had granted warrants allowing the 18-year-old to be held until Saturday September 23, and Farroukh until Thursday September 21.

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.

Aladdin's
Aladdin’s Fried Chicken on Kingsley Road, Hounslow, where a man thought to be Yahyah Farroukh was arrested in connection with the Parsons Green bombing (Thomas Hornall/PA)

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.

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.”

House in Sunbury-on-Thames
Police are still searching a house on Cavendish Road, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, which is following the terrorist attack at Parsons Green underground station (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

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.

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.

Suleman Sarwar
Suleman Sarwar, owner of Aladdin’s takeaway in Hounslow (Thomas Hornall/PA)

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.

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.

Penelope Jones
Penelope Jones received an MBE from The Queen for services to families and children (Lewis Whyld/PA)

A local politician said he understood an 18-year-old Iraqi orphan was living with the couple, having moved to Britain at 15 after his parents died.

The younger suspect was detained on Saturday morning in the departure area of Dover ferry port, which is the busiest ferry hub in Europe and a gateway to the French coast.

Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council Ian Harvey, whose ward is Sunbury East, said he learned about the boy’s background from neighbours of Mr and Mrs Jones and information available publicly.

He told the Press Association: “One thing I understand is that he was an Iraqi refugee who came here aged 15 – his parents died in Iraq.”

Of the other suspect, he added: “I think it is widely known that this person who lives at (the Stanwell) property was a former foster child at the property which was raided yesterday.”

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