International   

Pakistani students held in Britain terror raids

— Photo: AP

Pinned down: Armed anti-terrorist police apprehend a suspect outside the library of John Moores University in Liverpool on Wednesday.

LONDON: 10 Pakistani nationals who came to Britain on student visas and two others have been arrested for allegedly planning what the police claimed could have been a “very, very big” Al-Qaeda-inspired terror attack though no specific targets were mentioned.

On a day of high drama, Britain’s top counter-terror officer Bob Quick was forced to resign after being photographed openly carrying a confidential document containing details of the anti-terror operation that led to the arrests. The raids were originally planned for Thursday but brought forward to Wednesday after Mr. Quick was photographed with operational details.

Security officials claimed that the alleged plot was in an advanced stage and an attack, possibly using an improvised explosive device, could have taken place “very soon”. But they said there was no specific threat and dismissed media reports that the Manchester United football grounds, a night club and a shopping complex were among the targets.

The arrested men, some of whom were in their late teens, were rounded up after a series of raids in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire on Wednesday as part of what was described as one of the most “complex” anti-terror operations. Besides 10 Pakistani nationals, including two students of John Moores University, Liverpool, one British-Pakistani was among those arrested. The background of the twelfth man was not known.

Residents of the areas where homes and offices were raided expressed surprise saying they had not noticed any suspicious goings-on in those premises. One businessman of Pakistani origin said he was “outraged” that police had broken into his shop.

“I’ve been in this country for 20 years and I have nothing to do with terrorists,” he said.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith hailed it as a “successful anti-terrorism operation” and said Britain continued to face a “severe terrorist threat”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Quick apologised and said that he had resigned “in the knowledge that my action could have compromised a major counter-terrorism operation”.

“I deeply regret the disruption caused to colleagues undertaking the operation and remain grateful for the way in which they adapted quickly and professionally to a revised timescale,” he said in a statement.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistani students held in Britain terror raids
Army fears clashes between LTTE, civilians
Swat peace deal in jeopardy
Support for Kashmiris: Zardari
Chavez hails ties with China
Bangladesh begins war crimes trial
Russia sees West’s hand in Moldova
Bainimarama gives up post after verdict

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu