Egyptian chemist has no link to al-Qaeda, Interior Minister

Egyptian Chemist Magdi Mahmoud Mustafa El-Nashar, arrested on suspicions of being involved in the July 7 London bombings, had no link to al-Qaeda organization, said Interior Minister Habib al-Adli on Friday.

In statement to Egyptian Daily Al-Gomhuria, the minister described reports in Arab and foreign papers linking the Egyptian chemist to al-Qaeda as 'groundless' and was based on a hasty conclusion.

He also denied reports on the participation of British officers in interrogating the Egyptian citizen.

Born on May 27, 1972, El-Nashar is a researcher at the National Research Center and had traveled to Britain in 2000 to get a doctorate degree from Leeds University.