Police granted more time to question terror suspects

Detectives questioning eight men in relation to alleged terrorist activity since Tuesday morning have been told they can hold the group for another three days.

The men were arrested, and more than half a tonne of ammonium nitrate was seized, during a series of anti-terror raids on addresses across London and the Home Counties.

Two people were arrested in Uxbridge, one each in Ilford, Horley and Slough and three in Crawley. The men, who are all British citizens and aged between 17 and 32 years of age, are being held on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Five police forces - involving around 700 officers in total - and the Security Service carried out the series.

Yesterday, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) wrote to leaders of Islamic institutions urging vigilance against illegal activities – as some organisations "misleadingly" associate Islam with terrorism.

In its letter to all imams, ulema, chairs and secretaries of mosques, Islamic organisations and institutions in Britain, the MCB Secretary General Iqbal Sacranie said that Islam has been associated with terrorism by some figures, "despite our immediate, public and unequivocal condemnation" of the Madrid terror attacks.

He also restated the MCB position that it is a Muslim's duty to help preserve the peace of the nation as well as "protecting the community against falling into any trap or provocation".

(gmcg)