The London bomb suspect under arrest in Rome, Osman Hussain, has claimed that did not set out to kill anyone on 21 July and was not a would-be suicide bomber.
In an interview on British television, his Italian lawyer explained the 27-year-old's apparent motivation.
Antonieta Sommessa said her client admitted taking part in the second wave of attacks but did not mean to kill.
She says the attempted bombing was a protest against the war in Iraq and was not part of bigger terrorist plot.
Ethiopian-born Osman Hussain - also known as Hamdi Isaac - is fighting extradition to Britain and will appear in court again in Rome tomorrow.
Italian police have also detained two of Mr Hussain's brothers.
The leader of the House of Commons, Geoff Hoon, has said that extra passport checks could be introduced as the British government examines how Mr Hussain was able to leave the UK.
He is believed to have left Britain by Eurostar train from Waterloo station, days after the failed attacks on the London transport network on 21 July
Meanwhile, police investigating the attempted attacks have arrested a further seven people.
Six men and one woman were arrested during anti-terrorism raids in Brighton.
Today's arrests bring to 18 the number of people being held in the enquiry.
Three of the prime suspects are being questioned in the high security facility in the British capital.
Zambia, meanwhile, has agreed to extradite a British man, wanted by police in London in connection with the first wave of attacks on 7 July.
British government ministers are to hold a series of meetings with the Muslim community over the coming weeks in an attempt to improve race relations in the wake of July's events.
