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British terror suspects questioned

A small amount of explosives was found at the suspects home in Gloucester.
A small amount of explosives was found at the suspects home in Gloucester.

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LONDON, England -- Police in London were questioning a man over suspected international terrorist links for a third day, while in southern England police were holding six men under the country's anti-terrorism laws.

The six, all in their mid-20s and of North African origin, were arrested in the seaside town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, earlier this week, but details were only released by police on Saturday, the UK Press Association reported.

The men were being held under section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which relates to arranging funds or property for the purposes of terrorism, police said.

They were detained by officers investigating a "large-scale" check and credit card fraud. Two are from Eastbourne, two from nearby Hastings and two from London, police said.

The arrests were not connected to others made elsewhere in Britain this week, police said.

On Thursday, police arrested a 24-year-old British Muslim in the southwestern town of Gloucester and found a small amount of explosives in the house where he was seized.

The suspect, who has not been identified by police, was being questioned at a high-security police station in London.

Police have until Monday to charge him, release him, or apply to magistrates for further time to question him.

Since his arrest, police have carried out raids on three more addresses in Gloucester and six in Britain's second city, Birmingham, in central England.

They say the raids in Birmingham were not connected with the Gloucester arrest.

On Saturday, a 33-year-old man arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of involvement of terrorism was released without charge, police said.

The man, who was not identified, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of "involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism." London's Metropolitan Police said.

Detectives searched six buildings in Birmingham in connection with the arrest. Police said inquiries were continuing.

A 39-year-old man from Manchester, northwest England, who was arrested on Thursday also has been released from custody, police said.

Britain has been on its second-highest security alert for two weeks after intelligence officials said they had information that an attack was planned, without specifying any target.

Meanwhile, Britain's Home Secretary David Blunkett is under fire for comments he made about the Gloucester suspect.

Matthias Kelly, chairman of the Bar Council which represents Britain's leading lawyers, said Blunkett's comments could prejudice any subsequent trial.


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