In an update to TRC analysis on the London terrorist bombings (Intel Report), recent information revealed by British authorities seems to support key aspects of the TRC hypothesis that the terrorist cell was a European ?vanguard outpost? cell within al-Qaeda?s global terrorist network?a cell comprised of indigenous Islamist extremist operatives with relatively ?clean? or low-threat profiles in the eyes of British security services that seems to have conducted an entrepreneurial attack to further al-Qaeda?s strategic and ideological agenda. The earlier TRC hypothesis (that the attacks were developed and carried out with minimal involvement of the core of al-Qaeda) must be revised in light of investigative developments that suggest the potential of greater strategic or operational guidance or involvement by al-Qaeda nucleus leaders and/or operatives or other established al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups.

It has been revealed that the four bombers were Britons of whom three were born in Britain and of Pakistani decent?Shehzad Tanweer, Mohammad Sidique Khan, and Hasib Mir Hussain?and the fourth, Germaine Lindsay, was born in Jamaica and had grown up in Britain. Only one had drawn the scrutiny of Britain?s security services before the attack; Mohammad Sidique Khan was investigated briefly by Britain?s homeland security agency, MI5, but deemed not to pose a threat and was not put under surveillance.