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U.K. seeks suspect's extradition

Hasan Suroor

He is said to be the key person behind plot to blow up U.S. planes

LONDON: The British Government on Monday sought the extradition of Rashid Rauf, a British national arrested in Pakistan earlier this month and described by the Pakistani authorities as "key person'' behind the alleged plot to blow up American planes.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed this but said the extradition request was in "respect of a murder committed in April 2002.'' Asked whether the request also related to his alleged role in the airline terror plot, she said she could not neither "confirm nor deny'' it.

The case over which Mr. Rauf's extradition has been sought reportedly relates to the murder of his uncle who lived in the U.K. But police declined to comment.

Focus on charity fund

Two brothers of Mr. Rauf were arrested in Britain following the discovery of the alleged terror plot, but one has since been released without any charge. His father Abdul Rauf was reportedly one of the co-founders of Crescent Relief which is being investigated by Britain's Charity Commission over allegations that some of the money raised by it for the victims of last year's earthquake in Pakistan might have been misused to fund the conspiracy.

Twelve persons have been charged in connection with the suspected plot which, Scotland Yard claims, was aimed at committing "mass murder on an unimaginable scale'' by blowing up U.S.-bound flights from Britain in mid-air using liquid explosives.

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