July 2025 marks 20 years since the 7/7 bombings, and the failed 21/7 plot.
On 7th July 2005, 52 innocent people were murdered by four extremists who set off liquid bombs on three London tube carriages and on one bus. Two weeks later, a similar plot was set to take place on 21st July. However, fortunately, the potential bombing failed, leading to the arrests of the four wannabe bombers.
The failed bombing is covered in Netflix’s Attack on London: The 7/7 Bombings, which explores 7/7 and 21/7. In the documentary, viewers hear from police, witnesses, and victims of the attacks, and are shown how officers caught the potential bombers.
Six men were found to be involved in the plan, including the four men who attempted to set off the bombs. Four were convicted of conspiracy to murder in January 2007 with two other men facing different convictions, but where are the 21/7 bombers now?
Hussain Osman
Hussain Osman via Polizia di Stato on Creative Commons
The first of the 21/7 failed bombers, Osman, detonated a device at Shepherd’s Bush Market tube station at 12:26pm on 21st July 2005. However, the liquid bomb did not explode properly due to the solution inside the device being too weak.
When the bomb failed to cause damage, Osman fled the scene, later going to Italy on a false passport. During the Met Police’s investigation of Osman, officers found a gym membership card and later discovered where he lived. However, after believing they saw Osman exit his address, they followed an innocent man, later killing him on the tube, thinking they had caught the failed bomber.
Osman was later found in Rome, and had been staying at his brother in law’s apartment. His location was discovered after Osman put an Italian SIM card in his phone. He was arrested eight days after the bombing attempt, and sentenced to life in prison. He must serve a minimum of 40 years before being considered for parole and is now thought to be based at Belmarsh Prison in London.
Ramzi Mohammed
Mohammed (R) and Ibrahim (L) upon their arrest via Netflix
Also on the 21st July 2005, a bomb was detonated at Oval tube station. However, it failed to properly explode. This device was detonated by Ramzi Mohammed, who quickly left the scene following his bomb’s malfunction.
Mohammed was soon identified after a member of the public reached out to officers after they released images of the extremists. He was later arrested on 29th August at a block of flats in West London.
When he was captured, officers were concerned that he had an explosive device on him so they evacuated the flats, citing a gas leak. Mohammed was swiftly detained, along with Muktar Said Ibrahim, another failed bomber, who was also at the address.
He was sentenced to serve a minimum of 40 years in prison for conspiracy to murder. Along with Osman, he is also thought to reside at HMP Belmarsh.
Yasin Hassan Omar
Omar fleeing the scene via Netflix
Omar set off a bomb on the Victoria line between Oxford Circus and Warren Street, but as with the others, the device failed only causing a small explosion.
After fleeing the scene, he was identified by a neighbour who lived in the same block as him. However, upon entering the flat, Omar was nowhere to be seen.
The extremist was instead in Birmingham and had travelled to the city wearing a full burkha, as to evade detection. When he arrived in the city, he was identified by a member of the public, and West Midlands Police soon arrested him.
As with the other failed bombers, Omar was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years behind bars. He is also thought to reside at HMP Belmarsh.
Muktar Said Ibrahim
via Netflix
The fourth failed bomber set off his device on the number 26 bus to Hackney Wick. As with others, the bomb failed to fully detonate.
He was soon identified by police when his father gave up his son’s name. His family said they knew nothing of his extremist activities, and distanced themselves from Ibrahim.
He was arrested on 28th July, the same day Osman was captured, and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years behind bars.
Ibrahim, the last of the 21/7 bombers, is also now believed to reside at Belmarsh Prison.
Manfo Kwaku Asiedu
Whilst Asiedu was not one of the failed bombers, he was supposed to set off a fifth bomb. However, instead of detonating it, he hid it in Wormwood Scrubs Park and handed himself in to the police.
He testified against the other defendants in court but was found guilty of conspiracy to cause an explosion. He was then sentenced to serve 33 years in jail.
Unlike the previous four 21/7 bombers, Asiedu now does not reside in a UK prison, as he was deported to Ghana in 2024. He is not believed to be in prison currently.
Adel Yahya
Yahya was convicted of collecting information likely to be useful to terrorists. He was jailed for six years and nine months, minus the 546 days he had already served.
In court, the judge presiding over his sentencing told the convict that he would potentially only serve half of his sentence.
Yahya, who was a student at the time of the failed attack, is no longer in custody, and his whereabouts are not publicly known.
Featured image via Netflix
