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British police arrest al-Qaida suspect
British police hunting for international criminals have detained two men, one of whom is believed to have connections with al-Qaida. Officers arrested a 24-year-old man in the western town of Gloucester and said they had evacuated the surrounding area in case they found explosives. "It could be pretty big ⊠if we find what we suspect (sic) we are looking for", one investigator said.
| It's that raw intel thing. You don't know if it's valid until you go look... |
A police spokeswoman said the man had been arrested on "suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "It is believed by the security and special branch services that this man has connections with the network of al-Qaida groups.
| Notice that Blunkett has shifted his terminolgy... |
"We would not have taken these steps if we didn't believe that this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of our country," he told local television. Police said Thursday's operation was the culmination of months of investigation, but investigators declined to comment what police suspected the man was planning.
| He prob'ly wasn't planning on opening a day care center... |
Officers were also searching two addresses in the northern town of Blackburn in connection with the arrest of the 24-year-old - believed to be a British-born Muslim.
| They're stuck with him — can't even deport him to Khilafastan... |
A 39-year-old man was also arrested by police on Thursday in the northern city of Manchester, Scotland Yard said. However the source said this arrest was unconnected to the operation in Gloucester.
| Same song, different verse... |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-11-27 |
