Post by Salem6 on Nov 28, 2003 7:31:32 GMT
Police are continuing to question a man suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda.
A 24-year-old British man was arrested on Thursday under the Terrorism Act and taken to a central London police station.
Residents were moved to a local leisure centre
Scotland Yard said a "relatively small amount" of explosive materials were removed from his house in Gloucester.
Residents of 119 homes returned home on Thursday night after being evacuated as police searched the man's home.
A police spokesman said: "We are confident that there is no longer a danger posed by explosives on the premises and work will begin to allow the local community to return to their homes as soon as is possible."
Officers have dismissed as "pure speculation" reports that a suicide attack was being planned on a football stadium.
The man, who is of Pakistani origin, was under surveillance by the police and the security service M15.
Whitehall sources have confirmed they have been checking on possible links he has with "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, who was sentenced to life for trying to blow up a US passenger plane.
Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Scotland Yard indicated the amount of explosives was relatively small but sufficient to cause significant damage.
Police also searched two addresses in Blackburn as part of the operation. A 39-year-old man was also taken into custody in Manchester in a separate anti-terror investigation.
Lancashire Council of Mosques
Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the man arrested in Gloucester had been a former student at the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn.
He said religious leaders had been "fully co-operative" in assisting police in a search of the college and adjoining mosque.
"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world," he added.
Mr Blunkett said: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.
"Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I don't want to in any way damage the future trial."
Streets evacuated
A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved.
Thursday's arrests come after Britain's terrorist threat level was recently increased following new intelligence of an al-Qaeda plot.
They also come one week after double suicide bombings in Istanbul in which at least 28 people died.
Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of Gloucester were sealed off while the searches were carried out and residents moved to a nearby leisure centre.
A 24-year-old British man was arrested on Thursday under the Terrorism Act and taken to a central London police station.
Residents were moved to a local leisure centre
Scotland Yard said a "relatively small amount" of explosive materials were removed from his house in Gloucester.
Residents of 119 homes returned home on Thursday night after being evacuated as police searched the man's home.
A police spokesman said: "We are confident that there is no longer a danger posed by explosives on the premises and work will begin to allow the local community to return to their homes as soon as is possible."
Officers have dismissed as "pure speculation" reports that a suicide attack was being planned on a football stadium.
The man, who is of Pakistani origin, was under surveillance by the police and the security service M15.
Whitehall sources have confirmed they have been checking on possible links he has with "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, who was sentenced to life for trying to blow up a US passenger plane.
Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Scotland Yard indicated the amount of explosives was relatively small but sufficient to cause significant damage.
Police also searched two addresses in Blackburn as part of the operation. A 39-year-old man was also taken into custody in Manchester in a separate anti-terror investigation.
Lancashire Council of Mosques
Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the man arrested in Gloucester had been a former student at the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn.
He said religious leaders had been "fully co-operative" in assisting police in a search of the college and adjoining mosque.
"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world," he added.
Mr Blunkett said: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.
"Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I don't want to in any way damage the future trial."
Streets evacuated
A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved.
Thursday's arrests come after Britain's terrorist threat level was recently increased following new intelligence of an al-Qaeda plot.
They also come one week after double suicide bombings in Istanbul in which at least 28 people died.
Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of Gloucester were sealed off while the searches were carried out and residents moved to a nearby leisure centre.