Labour MP - "he's a nice boy really"

Again, it would be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Here's the non-provocative and wonderfully named "suicide bomber" Omar Khayam a day or two back.

Omar Khayam from Bedford, who was photographed wearing what onlookers described as a suicide bomber's harness, said he had no regrets about his style of dress, telling a national newspaper: "I didn't go there to cause anyone any harm. I went along just to attend a protest. Yet I have been branded a suicide bomber overnight.

"Did I say, 'Kill Jews?' No. Did I have racist signs on me? No. So why this reaction?"

"I would do it again to make a point. I could have gone along and held up banners or something, but this made the point better."

I think some people got the point.

Strangely, by yesterday Omar had decided to don the winter garment of repentance. As Bedford Today reported :

Bedford man sorry for suicide bomber protest
22-year-old admits his actions in London were wrong
A protester who dressed as a 'suicide bomber' at a Muslim demonstration in London has apologised for his "insensitive" actions.

Omar Khayam, 22, of Ford End Road, Bedford, spoke out at his home after being tracked down by a media frenzy.

Mr Khayam said: "I wouldn't have done it again. I do not want to provoke any violence, I just wanted to make a point using my right in freedom of speech."

Hundreds of banner-waving Muslim extremists demonstrated on Saturday against a Danish newspaper's cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Mr Khayam explained his actions in a statement on Monday and said: "I found the pictures deeply offensive as a Muslim and I felt the Danish newspaper had been provocative and controversial, deeply offensive and insensitive.

"Just because we have the right of free speech and a free media, it does not mean we may say and do as we please and not take into account the effect it will have on others.

"I did it to make a point but did not mean it in a way to offend people, families or victims of terrorism."

Mr Khayam added: "I do not condone these murderous acts, do not support terrorism or extremism and would like to apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly to the families of the victims. I also apologise to the British Muslim community.

"I understand it was wrong, unjustified and insensitive of me to protest in this way."

Asif Nadim, chairman of the Jamia Masjid Gulshan Baghdad Mosque, in Westbourne Road, Queens Park, condemned Mr Khayam's actions on behalf of the Muslim community.

Mr Nadim said: "This is extremely serious and damaging but I hope people in general do realise this is not the way to go about expressing freedom of speech.

"It is all very well wanting to be different but this has to be done in an acceptable manner. His manner of protest was extremely offending and unacceptable.

"I hope he understands the significance of this and hope other people listen to that. This is totally unacceptable behaviour and was totally out of character."

Patrick Hall, MP for Bedford and Kempston, said: "It has got out of hand. But he is sincere and has apologised.

"This was a highly provocative and foolish protest. But he is not a member of extreme organisation.

"Now he has thought he has seen how he got it very wrong and he is trying to repair the damage that has been done."

As reported in the Telegraph, Mr Hall was speaking outside Khayam's house at a hastily organised press conference.

Mr Hall, with his background in town planning and local government, is obviously a worldly-wise type. It didn't occur to him to wonder - why this change of heart ?

We know now.

He was sentenced in 2002 to five and a half years for dealing coke. He's out 'on license' under the 'supervision' of our wonderful probation 'service'.

According to the Daily Mirror, 'sources' are claiming he 'dealt for Islam'. Don't know how likely that is.

"He told people that he would use the money from drugs for the cause, meaning radical Muslim groups. He has obviously become even more radicalised since he got out."


Khayam - who apologised yesterday for dressing as a suicide bomber at a London demo - was jailed in 2002 for possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply. He was freed on parole last year after half his six-year sentence.


The insider, who knew him at Springhill Prison, Bucks, added: "It was well known that Omar made a lot of money from drugs. He was part of a large crew in Bedford. His street name is Skinner and there are a lot of drug users in the town who know him through these connections".