Parsons Green tube attack: police make seventh arrest

Detectives investigating the Parsons Green tube attack have arrested a seventh man, Scotland Yard has said.

The 20-year-old was taken into custody in the early hours of Monday in Cardiff and has been taken to a police station in south London. Officers are searching a property in Cardiff, police said.

Of the seven who have been arrested during the investigation so far, three have been released, three remain in custody and one – 18-year-old Ahmed Hassan – has appeared in court charged with attempted murder and setting off an explosion.

Those still in custody also include a 25-year-old man and a 30-year-old man – the third and fifth people to be arrested respectively.

Each was arrested by counter-terrorism officers in Newport, south Wales, under section 41 of the Terrorism Act.

A 48-year-old man, who had also been arrested in Newport, was released with no further action by police last Thursday, as was 21-year-old Yahyah Farroukh. He had had been stopped by officers as he left work the day after the attack, but was subsequently found to have had no involvement in it.

The following day, a 17-year-old man from south London was also released. Police said searches were being carried out at an address in Surrey and another in Cardiff. Searches at other addresses in Surrey, Hounslow and Newport had been completed by Monday, they added.

Hassan appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Friday charged with carrying out the attack.

In the brief hearing before the deputy senior district judge, Tan Ikram, Hassan spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 October.

Thirty people were injured the incident on 15 September. Most escaped serious harm, though one woman sustained what police described as life-changing injuries with severe burns to her face, hands and legs.