British police get more time to quiz terror suspects

LONDON: British police were on Saturday granted a further seven days to question 11 men arrested over an alleged Al-Qaeda-driven major terrorist plot, while one was released without charge. Twelve men, among them 11 Pakistani nationals, 10 in Britain on student visas. and a Briton were arrested in raids across northwest England on Wednesday. "The North West Counter Terrorism Unit was last night given warrants for the further detention of 11 men arrested," a Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said. An 18-year-old arrested in connection with the alleged plot has been released without charge in relation to the anti-terror operation. He is now in the custody of the UK Border Agency, which regulates immigration and can investigate the status of those entering Britain. The men still being held by police are in custody in various locations across Britain. They range in age from 22 to 41, and can be held without charge for up to 28 days. Britain has been on high security alert ever since the July 2005 attacks on the London transport system, which killed 56 people including four suicide bombers.