British police seek more time to question terrorism suspects

LONDON – British police were seeking more time yesterday to question two men arrested by anti-terrorism police in a raid on a house police suspected of being used for making a chemical bomb.

The men, one of whom was shot during the operation, were detained after more than 250 officers, some wearing chemical, biological and radiological protection suits, raided a house in Forest Gate, east London, last Friday. Officers will have to apply to magistrates for extra time for detectives to question the two suspects, aged 23 and 20.The men, whose lawyers say they deny any involvement in terrorism, are being held at London’s top security Paddington Green police station.Friday’s raid has provoked criticism from some local Muslim leaders who accused police of using “heavy-handed” tactics.So far detectives, who said they had been acting on specific intelligence about a plot to make some form of chemical bomb, have not found any device.Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned against drawing any conclusions about the raid and said there may be “a whole series of things” police need to look into in connection with it.”I support the police 101 per cent,” Blair said.”If they (the police) have a reasonable piece of intelligence that they think they have to investigate and take action on, they should,” he said on Tuesday.Blair said he was not concerned about a Muslim backlash if the police got things wrong.”It’s a real mistake to think that your average person from the Muslim community is any different from anybody else.They know perfectly well there’s a problem.We know there’s a problem with terrorism.”- Nampa-ReutersOfficers will have to apply to magistrates for extra time for detectives to question the two suspects, aged 23 and 20.The men, whose lawyers say they deny any involvement in terrorism, are being held at London’s top security Paddington Green police station.Friday’s raid has provoked criticism from some local Muslim leaders who accused police of using “heavy-handed” tactics.So far detectives, who said they had been acting on specific intelligence about a plot to make some form of chemical bomb, have not found any device.Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned against drawing any conclusions about the raid and said there may be “a whole series of things” police need to look into in connection with it.”I support the police 101 per cent,” Blair said.”If they (the police) have a reasonable piece of intelligence that they think they have to investigate and take action on, they should,” he said on Tuesday.Blair said he was not concerned about a Muslim backlash if the police got things wrong.”It’s a real mistake to think that your average person from the Muslim community is any different from anybody else.They know perfectly well there’s a problem.We know there’s a problem with terrorism.”- Nampa-Reuters