Blunkett moves to reassure public as al-Qaida militants ‘go on run’
Mr Blunkett said the country was “maintaining a state of heightened readiness”, although he made no specific comment on reports that members of a terror cell escaped capture during police raids earlier this week.
“We are maintaining a state of heightened readiness and taking every feasible precautionary measure to protect British citizens, both here and abroad, consistent with the level of threat,” said the Home Secretary.
“I’m kept fully informed of police operations. As these are ongoing I cannot comment further on them at this stage,” he said.
Moving to reassure the Muslim community about this week’s arrests, Mr Blunkett said: “We do not see the Muslim community as a threat - the vast majority of Muslim people are peaceful and law-abiding.”
The five men reported to have evaded capture on Tuesday, all of Pakistani origin, were linked to an alleged terrorist plot to attack Heathrow Airport.
They were said to be under the command of an alleged senior British al-Qaida agent, who was reportedly among the 12 men arrested by police during the raids in London and three counties.
Abu Eisa al-Hindi was said to have been involved in the Heathrow plot - details of which were discovered on the computer of an al-Qaida suspect recently arrested in Pakistan.
Meantime, a court heard that a British man facing extradition to the US on terrorism charges was found in possession of strategic plans for a US Navy battle group in the Gulf.
Babar Ahmad, 30, of Fountain Road, Tooting, south London, also had email links to one of the men suspected of planning the Moscow theatre bombing, and operated a series of pro-Jihad websites, it was alleged.
Ahmad, arrested yesterday on a warrant issued on behalf of US authorities appeared before Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London and was remanded in custody until next Friday.
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