JAMAICA’S crime chief Mark Shields huddled yesterday with officials of the British High Commission, as news spread that a Jamaican might be one of four suicide bombers that killed 52 people in London, but denied later that any investigation was ongoing from his end.

Shields, himself an expert who once worked with the anti-terrorism unit at Scotland Yard, from where he was seconded here as deputy commissioner of police, said there is yet no confirmation of the bomber’s identity.

“It’s not definite that the fellow is from here,” he told the Observer by telephone.

The man was first reported Wednesday as being of Jamaican descent and his name given as Lindsay Germaine.

Yesterday, London sources said the name was Germaine Lindsay.

Shields refused to comment on the details or tone of the discussions at the high commission, insisting they were “operational matters”, but said Scotland Yard was making no plans to send investigators here, nor had they asked him to investigate any Jamaican link to the bombing.

“There have been no requests, nor directives,” said Shields, adding that neither Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas nor officials of the Government had made any request for a probe.

For now, “my job is to ensure that we facilitate any requests”, said the DCP.

His office will be issuing no statements in relation to the case, he said, noting that the probe was being done by the London anti-terrorism unit and any official comments were theirs to make.

London sources said yesterday that DNA testing was being done on the fourth suspected bomber, but added that identification seemed unlikely before the next three or four days.

Observer investigations found tentative links – cousins, one of whom was twice removed – to a Germaine Lindsay in Mandeville.

That Germaine was said to have lived in Mandeville, but migrated to the United Kingdom as a child some 15 years ago, according to Albert Lindsay, 74.

“He was going to Bellefield Primary here in Mandeville when he left here,” he said.

The elderly man said Germaine last lived along West Road in a community called Brumalia in Mandeville, but could not recall the exact address.

Germaine’s father, he said, was similarly called Albert Lindsay, an auto mechanic, but the 74-year-old man could not remember the mother’s name.

“She lives in Cayman (Islands), but she came out here about three or four years ago,” he said.

The Observer located a mechanic whose name is Albert Lindsay, but he denied having a son by the name of Germaine Lindsay.

The 74-year-old Albert yesterday described his Germaine as “a very quiet boy”.

“Him very nice,” he said, just before heading off to a church function.

The name of the suspect and his possible link to Jamaica have turned some of the international media spotlight on Jamaica – already linked to the famous 2003 sniper case in the United States for which teenager Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Muhammad were convicted for several killings.

Yesterday, a man identifying himself as Lindley Germain, a real estate developer from Cherry Gardens, a rich St Andrew neighbourhood, rang the Observer, saying he had been inundated with calls since the Observer reported the story locally, quoting an NBC news report.

Germain denied any linkage with the named suspect, saying “there is no relation whatsoever”, adding that he wanted it known that he had left London back in 1963 and has since been “trying to make a living” in Jamaica.

Germain would not give his age, but sounded elderly.

Calls to The London Metropolitan Police (MPS) by the Observer yesterday yielded no answers concerning the bomber’s identity, or whether there were any Jamaican casualties among the 52 persons killed and 700 injured in the bomb attacks.

Neither could the foreign affairs ministry speak on the issue.

“We have been discussing the matter with the consulate (and) of course, we are watching the unfolding of events.

What I’ve heard is no different from what have been picked up in the press,” said Delano Franklyn, state minister of foreign affairs.

“I’ve heard speculation that one of the persons involved is either of Jamaican descent or was born in Jamaica. We are not in a position to verify that because there is an investigation that is underway.”

One week into the tragedy, the British police say they have taken more than 500 witness statements and are pouring through 5,000 CCTV tapes. Britons yesterday observed a moment of silence at mid-day to pay respect to the dead and injured.

– Reported by Observer writers Taneisha Davidson and Vivienne Green Evans