BEIJING, July 18 -- London's Sunday Times reported on Sunday that Britain's domestic secret service, MI5 scrutinized the suspected suicide bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan last year, but did not regard him as a threat to national security or put him under surveillance.

    The paper said that MI5 began evaluating former teacher assistant Khan during an inquiry that focused on an alleged plot to explode a large truck bomb outside a target in London.

    John O'Connor, an ex-flying squad officer said the pressure is on the government improve security.

    "You know, we are in a race against time here and the government's really got to wake up and face up to the fact that the security of the people of this country is an absolutely prime objective of what the government should be doing", Connor said. 

    Officers have also been searching the Leeds home of an Egyptian biochemist for more evidence after investigators reportedly found traces of explosives in the man's bathtub.

    Magdy Mahmoud Mustafa el-Nashar is in Egypt, being interrogated by authorities, and is denying having any connection to the attacks.

    Egypt is not prepared to hand el-Nashar over to Britain, as the two countries have no extradition treaty.

    The July 7 bombings in London killed 55 people on three underground trains and a double-decker bus.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)