Ibrahim picked up bomb components on short stroll

Building bombs was a simple task for Isa Ibrahim. All it took was a short stroll from his home in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, to nearby stores to purchase the ingredients he needed to make the same highly explosive organic compound used by the July 7 bombers.

On April 9 last year the 20-year-old went to camping equipment outlet Oswald Bailey, in Horsefair, and bought a £1.99 pack of solid fuel tablets.

The chemistry student then went to Boots at the Broadmead Shopping Centre to buy more ingredients.

He was then captured on camera as he went to Maplins on Gloucester Road and hurriedly bought various electrical components.

Later still, Ibrahim returned to Boots at Broadmead and then to a Tesco Metro.

Officers recovered further CCTV footage of Ibrahim making return visits on subsequent dates to Boots.

A spokeswoman for Boots UK said guidance was re-issued to them from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) following Ibrahim's arrest.

She said: "All Boots pharmacists receive regular communications both from RPSGB, and from ourselves.

"In April 2008, the RPSGB reissued guidance to all pharmacists on the misuse of substances."

A Home Office spokesman said the Government, police and security services had worked together to reduce the risk of hazardous substances being used by terrorists.

He said: "The National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) provides specialist advice to trade associations, industry and businesses about the security of a variety of hazardous substances.

"This includes 'Know Your Customer' campaigns, which raise awareness about the 'dual-use' nature of certain products and encourages suppliers to be more enquiring of new customers and to report suspicious enquiries to police.

"However, we are not complacent. In 2008 Lord West reviewed what more might be needed to strengthen security to protect against the use of hazardous substances for terrorist purposes.

"The review showed that a substantial amount of work has been undertaken in this area, but also highlighted areas where we can further reduce the vulnerability of hazardous substances.

"We are working hard with key partners to take this forward."