First Response

INTERVIEW WITH ISMAIL HUSSAIN (9.15 p.m.)

‘When the vest exploded, I couldn’t believe it,’ said Ismail Hussain. ‘The whole place shook and there was blood and bits of body. I’ve never seen anything like it outside of the movies.’

‘You were frightened?’ said Kamran. He sipped his coffee. Hussain was holding a bottle of water with both hands as if he feared it would be taken from him. Sergeant Lumley was sitting next to Kamran, taking notes.

‘I was terrified,’ said Hussain. ‘He killed the man without even thinking about it. He picked up his phone, pressed a button and bang!’

‘What did he say about the trigger you had in your hand?’

‘He said it wouldn’t work, He said the only way the bomb could be detonated was by phone. But we had to make people think we were going to kill them. That’s what he said. And he said that if we got the six ISIS warriors freed, we would all be able to go home.’

‘How do you feel about ISIS?’ asked Kamran.

Hussain’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why does that matter?’

‘You’re a Muslim. They’re fighting for Islam, so they say. Do you agree with what they’re doing?’

‘Do you?’

‘With the greatest of respect, Mr Hussain, I wasn’t the one caught wearing a suicide vest.’

‘I was forced to wear it,’ said Hussain. ‘I told you that. They knocked me out and when I woke up I was tied to a chair and wearing the vest. I’ve told you that a dozen times. Why does it matter what I believe in? You’re a Muslim too, right? Are you an ISIS fan?’

‘I’m never a fan of people who go around committing murder, who rape women and throw gays off roofs,’ said Kamran.

‘And you think I am?’

‘You’re a member of a group called Muslims Against Crusades. You’ve burned poppies and demonstrated against our armed forces.’

‘I’m allowed to express an opinion, aren’t I? It’s still a free country. I burnt a few paper flowers. I shouted at soldiers. Are you going to send me to prison for that?’

‘No one is threatening to send you to prison, Mr Hussain.’

Hussain held up his arms. ‘Then why are you forcing me to wear this? Are you sending me to Guantánamo Bay so the Americans can torture me?’

‘Please, Mr Hussain, there’s no need to get upset. We need our Forensics people to examine your clothing for evidence. I apologise for what you’re wearing now but it’s all we have. As soon as we’re done with this interview, we’ll get you home, I promise. But at the moment we’re trying to work out why you were kidnapped.’

‘And you think it was because I’m a Muslim?’

‘We’re fairly sure that’s the case. But there are more than a million Muslims living in London and we’d like to know why you were chosen.’

‘So why are you asking me about ISIS?’

‘Because you might have come into contact with this man Shahid before. You might know him.’

Hussain shook his head. ‘No. I didn’t recognise his voice. Now, please, I want to go home. I am a British citizen. I have rights.’