British police get more time to question terror suspects

British police Sunday were granted two more days to quiz nine men arrested in anti-terror raids last week.

Police are now allowed until Tuesday to question the men, who reportedly include a senior figure of the al-Qaeda terror network,according to a BBC report.

The nine, all believed to be of Asian origin, are suspected of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Scotland Yard said in a statement.

Thirteen men were arrested in raids on August 3 in northwest London and southern England. Two were freed without charge, two more are no longer being questioned under the Terrorism Act but were re-arrested on suspicion of forging ID documents.

A BBC report said the detained are alleged to have had contact with a suspected al-Qaeda computer expert arrested in Pakistan last month.

There are also reports linking them with computer plans of landmark buildings in the United States and details of a plot at Heathrow airport.

Under Britain's Terrorism Act, police may be granted extensionsto question suspects for up to 14 days before they must be chargedor released.

Source: Xinhua