Terror arrests linked to threat on Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown was threatened by a group calling themselves al-Qaida in Britain
Friday, 22, Aug 2008 06:53
Three men suspected of terror offences in Lancashire were linked to a threat on prime minister Gordon Brown, the BBC reports.
It says the threats were also made against former prime minister Tony Blair in January on a recognised jihadi website.
The group posting the statement called itself "al-Qaida in Britain" and demanded the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The three men were arrested on August 14th in connection with the website threats, which included a demand for the release of Muslim prisoners from Belmarsh high-security prison in London.
Detectives have searched the homes of the men, aged 21, 22 and 23. Two of the three were arrested at Manchester airport before they boarded a flight to Finland, while the third was arrested in Accrington.
Police have until Thursday to charge the men, after a judge granted them an additional seven days to hold them in custody two days ago.