Detectives investigating the attempted car bombing of Glasgow airport have recovered a claim of responsibility written by Kafeel Ahmed, who died from burns he suffered in the attack, the Guardian has learned.
Ahmed, 27, suffered more than 90 per cent burns after he drove a jeep laden with explosives into the airport terminal, in Britain’s first attempted suicide car bombing. Prompt evidence Evidence recovered pointing to his role in June’s attempted attacks in London and Glasgow includes an e-mail message sent just before the Glasgow attempted bombing, talking of martyrdom; CCTV footage from one of the failed car bombings in London showing a man relatives say is Ahmed, running away; evidence from a computer he used, showing visits to bomb-making websites; and his mobile phone from the smouldering jeep.
The attack on Glasgow on June 30 came a day after two car bombs failed to go off near a crowded night
club in the West End of London. On June 30, Ahmed sent a text message to a relative just after 1.30 pm which contained a link to an e-mail and a password to access it. Two hours later, the Bangalore-born engineer crashed the jeep into the terminal.
Those who have seen the e-mail regard it as Ahmed claiming responsibility for the attempted attacks on London and the one he was about to stage in Glasgow. Death wish
According to a source, Ahmed said that his actions were carried out in the name of Allah.
Initial evidence also points to the relative opening the e-mail at 4.50 pm on the Saturday, 90 minutes after Ahmed had rammed the airport. From the e-mail, the source said, it was clear he was expecting to die.
The flames that engulfed the vehicle were quickly put out, allowing Ahmed’s mobile to be recovered. He is believed to have used the mobile to send either the text message or the e-mail to his relative.
A Whitehall source said it was believed that Ahmed decided to attack Glasgow after fearing police would soon hunt him down, which meant that the planning was rushed.
The Guardian understands that police have CCTV images that show Ahmed apparently running away from the scene of the first London attack, and scurrying away from a car the terrorists meant to explode. Relatives who had been shown the images are said to be nearly certain it was him.
Police have also seized his computer and found evidence it had been used to scour websites on the construction of bombs and explosives. Ahmed died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on August 2.
