British police charge man over July 21 attacks

LONDON - British police charged a man under anti-terrorism laws on Wednesday in connection with the botched attempts to bomb London on July 21.

Abdul Sharif, 28, of south London, was charged with failing to give police information which could have led to the prosecution of a person "for an offence involving the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism".

London police said in a statement that Sharif withheld information about Hamdi Issac, also known as Osman Hussein, who was arrested in Rome on July 29.

Police say Issac left a bomb on a train in west London on July 21 which failed to explode.

The failed bombings caused no casualties but took place two weeks after four British Muslim men set off bombs on three underground trains and a bus, killing themselves and 52 other people in an attack police have linked to al Qaeda.

Sharif will appear at London's Bow Street Magistrates Court on Thursday.

- REUTERS