The three men arrested in connection with the July 7 bombings were named today by sources and included a taxi-driver who recently handed in his notice, saying that he was going to Pakistan, it emerged today.

The 30-year-old, named by sources as Mohammed Shakil, a father of three from the Beeston area of Leeds, worked for Gee Gee Cars, according to the firm’s owner Abdul Wahweed.

He was one of two men arrested yesterday in the terminal building at Manchester Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Pakistan.

The other man with him was named by sources today as Shipon Ullah, 23.

The third man, who was arrested in Leeds, has been named as Sadeer Saleem.

Anti-terrorist police have admitted that they were forced to seize prematurely three men suspected of helping the July 7 suicide bombers because two of them were about to board a plane.

Scotland Yard sources say that all three men are suspected “backroom boys” who could have provided help and support for the four suicide bombers before they killed 52 London Underground and bus passengers two years ago.

Police were granted a warrant to hold them for another week, Scotland Yard said this afternoon after they applied at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court for warrants of further detention.

According to Mr Wahweed, Mr Shakil handed his notice in two weeks ago saying he was going to Pakistan for some time to deal with some family problems.

A Gee Gee Cars driver took him to the airport yesterday morning, he said.

Counter-terrorism detectives today began questioning the three men who are being held at the high security wing of Paddington Green police station in central London.

According to Mr Wahweed, Mr Shakil ordered a taxi from an address in Leeds at 9.37am yesterday and was driven the 40 miles to the airport with another man.

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