LONDON - British investigators headed to a closed-door hearing Wednesday to
argue that suspects arrested in an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10
trans-Atlantic jetliners should be kept in custody without charge.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary John Reid said civil liberties "must and will be
balanced by the right of collective security."
Also, police examined several homes and businesses for clues into the alleged
plot broken up last Thursday. Another suspect was arrested Tuesday, bringing the
number being detained to 24.
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Baggage is seen at London's Heathrow airport,
Wednesday Aug. 16, 2006. British Airways reported it planned to operate 90
percent of scheduled services from Heathrow airport on Wednesday and
resume a full schedule on Friday. BA said Tuesday it was working to clear
a backlog of 5,000 pieces of stray luggage accumulated at Heathrow.
[AP]
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The hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon addresses the cases of 22
suspects arrested in the initial sweep. Under new terrorism laws, the suspects
can be held for 28 days as investigators prepare charges.
Air service nudged closer to normal. British Airways said it planned to
operate 90 percent of scheduled services from Heathrow airport on Wednesday and
resume a full schedule Friday.
Concern about security rose after a 12-year-old boy managed to board a plane
at Gatwick Airport on Tuesday without a passport, ticket or boarding pass. He
was detected by the cabin crew and removed before the flight took off.
"The boy had passed through a full security screening process and we are
confident there was no threat to passengers, staff or the aircraft at any time,"
said Stewart McDonald, spokesman the airport's owner, BAA PLC.
Anti-terror laws passed after the July 7, 2005, London transit bombings give
the government up to four weeks to hold suspects without charge, but they must
periodically go before a judge to make a case for continued confinement. The
accused person is represented by lawyers and does not appear in court.
Amjad Sarwar said his brother, Assad, was one of the people arrested in High
Wycombe, west of London. He said Assad is not involved in terrorism.
"They've got it all wrong," Sarwar told Britain's Channel 4. "He is an
innocent guy. He minds his own business. He's been helping the youth out
considerably in the area, and he's got nothing to do with it.
"There is no way he could have anything to do with terrorism. He condemns
terrorism."
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said that 46 locations, including
businesses and homes, have been searched. Three Internet cafes were raided in
the towns of Slough and Reading the same day the first arrests were made, a
spokesman for Thames Valley Police said.
Officers have not officially disclosed details about any items recovered
during the searches.
The British Broadcasting Corp. reported that a search of the woodland area in
High Wycombe turned up several firearms and other items of interest. It was not
clear if they were to be used in the alleged jetliner plot, which authorities
say involved a plan to smuggle liquid explosives hidden in hand luggage aboard
flights.
Halfway around the world, investigations continued in Pakistan, where
authorities held 17 people, including British citizen Rashid Rauf, who they said
has al-Qaida connections and was a key player in the plot. At least one of
Rauf's brothers was arrested in England during the sweep.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the country may extradite Rauf to Britain
but had not been asked.
The investigation was colored by claims that Britain's government has talked
tough regarding terrorism but has been slow to act.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said Prime Minister
Tony
Blair failed to follow through on a plan unveiled after last year's transit
bombings to crack down on radical clerics and help Britain's moderate Muslims
face down militants in their communities.
"We need follow-through when the headlines have moved on," Cameron said. "But
precious little has actually been done."
