A STUDENT who dressed up as a suicide bomber while taking part in protests at the weekend had been convicted of possessing crack cocaine and was released from prison only a few months ago.

Omar Khayam, 22, had a fake explosive belt around his chest as he demonstrated in London against the cartoons.

It was revealed last night that he was jailed for six years in 2002 after a police chase in Bedford, his home town. He threw a bag containing 60 grams (2oz) of crack from the car during the chase but it was retrieved by a witness. He was let out of prison early on parole and authorities will now decide whether he should be sent back for breaking the terms of his licence.

Yesterday he apologised “wholeheartedly” to the families who lost loved ones in the suicide bombings on July 7 last year, saying that he had not intended to cause offence. He said he felt that Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper, had been provocative and insensitive in publishing the cartoons. “By dressing the way I did, I did the same as the newspaper, if not worse,” he said.

Khayam, flanked by Patrick Hall, the local Labour MP, and the chairman of his mosque, appeared at his home in Bedford, saying: “I understand it was wrong, unjustified and insensitive of me.” He promised not to repeat his performance but said that he had no regrets about joining the protest. Friends say that he fears being prosecuted.

The militant group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which staged the rally attended by Khayam — and which Tony Blair has said he wants to ban — has condemned Khayam’s behaviour.

Earlier yesterday Scotland Yard defended its handling of the demonstrations and its refusal to arrest protesters who carried banners praising the July 7 suicide bombers. A decision has yet to be made on whether to charge anyone.

Intelligence reports suggest that some right-wing groups are plotting to disrupt rallies in London being planned by militant Islamic groups later this week. One source said: “Our worry is a counter-demonstration where, say, someone sets fire to a Koran.”

Politicians from all parties have accused the police of being too soft on those who called for more terrorist attacks in the capital. But a senior police figure told The Times: “The demonstration was filmed from start to finish and those images are now being studied with a view to possible prosecutions. But the findings must go to the Crown Prosecution Service and police are sceptical that anyone will be successfully tried. Of 21 recent cases of incitement brought before the CPS, one has gone to court.”

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