LONDON, Jan 22: British officials are investigating reports that one of seven suspected Al Qaeda operatives captured in an operation on Wednesday was involved in the July 2005 attack on London.

A report in the Independent headlined ‘London link after Pakistan terror arrests’ on Thursday quoted unnamed intelligence sources in Pakistan that Zabi ul Taifi was among the men captured near Peshawar. A raid was conducted by Pakistani police who used helicopters to hover above the scene “while US intelligence agents watched from a nearby car”.

The Pakistani sources said Taifi was believed to have some involvement in the 2005 bomb attacks in London.

It is understood, however, that British officials were not aware of him or his alleged involvement in the attacks prior to Wednesday’s operation. A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Islamabad said: “We are aware of the reports and we are looking into them.”

The Independent report said given that the operation appeared to have specifically been targeting militants blamed for attacks on the US supply route into Afghanistan, it would be a considerable additional victory for the security forces if one of those arrested proved to have been involved in an incident such as the July 2005 bombings.