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Blunkett faces legal row over remarks

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON DEC. 2. Even as more arrests were made today under the Terrorism Act after a series of raids on homes and businesses in south-west London and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, called for `vigilance', the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, was caught up in a legal row over his comments that a man of Pakistani origin arrested last week had `connections' with the Al-Qaeda network and posed "a very real threat to the life and liberty of our country".

The Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, was reported to be considering whether Mr. Blunkett's remarks were likely to prejudice a fair trial and were in breach of contempt laws.

"The Attorney-General is looking at the coverage of this case and that does include David Blunkett's remarks about it,'' a spokesperson said playing down reports of a formal inquiry specifically into the Home Secretary's comment.

The controversy erupted as the police stepped up their anti-terrorism operation and four men were arrested amid reports of a possible terrorist attack in the run-up to Christmas.

Muslim groups called for an apology saying they would not be `bullied' by Mr. Blunkett.

But the Home Secretary refused to back down saying: "I implied that if you are using terrorism legislation, you are dealing with the threat of terrorism. I think that is pretty self-evident, to be honest. I don't think it is prejudicial in any way to a charge or an individual trial.... I made the obvious observation that if our Anti-Terrorism Branch is involved and they are using terrorism legislation, then we are dealing with a potential terrorist threat."

The row follows the arrest of 24-year-old Sajid Badat after a raid on his house in Gloucestershire last Thursday.

Mr. Blunkett made the comment even as police were pointedly saying that the arrest was not linked to any specific terror plot.

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