2ND British police seek terror clues as "threat" remains

Published: 08/11/2006 10:57:55am

London- British police Friday continued the search for
evidence in the alleged terror plot against US-bound airliners as it
became clear that Pakistan played a crucial role in foiling what the
authorities in London said would have been "mass murder on an
unimaginable scale."
Home Secretary John Reid said Friday that Britain was at "immense
threat" from international terrorism, which could only be defeated by
close global security cooperation and solidarity among all religious
and ethnic groups in Britain.

However, there were signs of anger Friday among sections of
Britain's 1.7-million-strong Muslim community as police kept silent
about high-profile searches of homes in London, Birmingham and the
town of High Wycombe, south-west of the British capital.

The BBC reported that police had increased their presence in areas
with Muslim populations following the arrest of 24 people in
connection with the alleged plot.

Officers were investigating a small fire at a mosque in the
north-western city of Chester, but said it was too early to know
whether it was linked to publicity around the terror plot.

The Bank of England Friday published the names of 19 of the 24
suspects held, after their accounts had been frozen.

The names, indicating that most of those held were British Muslims
of Pakistani origin, were promptly reprinted in most newspapers
Friday.

In the east London district of Walthamstow, where two houses were
searched, the local imam Friday urged the community to "stay calm,"
but added that those held by police remained innocent until proved
guilty.

Reid, speaking in London a day after British anti-terror police
said it foiled a wave of suicide attacks on US-bound aircraft, made a
point of thanking Pakistan for its "vital" intelligence operation.

He said seven people, including two Britons, had been arrested in
Pakistan in connection with the plot.

While the investigations and police operation against the suspects
were "driven" by Britain, Pakistan had provided vital intelligence
clues, Reid told a news conference in London.

"We are very grateful for all the help and cooperation from our
international partners, including Pakistan," he said.

Reid stressed that the police operations against suspects in
Britain were "ongoing" and that the threat remained "immense."

Britain remained on the highest level of terrorist alert.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard newspaper reported Friday that the
terrorist plotters had earmarked August 16 as the day for their
multiple mid-air attacks on aircraft.

"The plotters set 16/8 as the date they would bring down 10 packed
passenger jets bound for the US with liquid peroxide-based bombs,"
the paper said.

Air tickets to fly out on a United Airlines flight next Wednesday
had been found at the home of one of the people arrested, said the
Standard.

There was to be a "practice run" attempt to board a US-bound
airliner Friday, for which tickets had also been found.

Reports said a young science student, an airport worker and a
pregnant woman were among those arrested.

Mainstream Muslim leader warned of a "backlash" among their
communities if it turned out that the police operation against the
suspects was based on "flawed intelligence."

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur