Five plane hijackers 'trained in Britain'

At least five of the 19-strong team of suicide terrorists which hijacked four planes and killed thousands a week ago were trained in Britain, it was claimed today.

Scotland Yard has been asked by the FBI to examine a list of 100 suspects and hunt down any ‘‘sleeper’’ cells lying dormant in the UK planning further attacks.

Dozens of homes will be raided and phone records, bank accounts, travel records and e-mails will all be investigated as Special Branch and Anti-Terrorist officers try to trace the suspects, according to reports.

Officers from Scotland Yard have already raided an address in Brixton, south London, at the request of the FBI, but no arrests were made.

A small group of British police have arrived in New York to help the FBI and US police identify British victims of the tragedy and provide initial support to families and friends.

And Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, national co-ordinator for terrorism, has said he has offered his support to US authorities.

One of those being questioned by the FBI, which is organising its biggest ever manhunt in the wake of attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, was held at Heathrow Airport having flown into the UK hours after the attacks in New York.

And one of the 49 people currently being held by the FBI in America also lived in the UK for months, the Daily Mail claims.

British officers have also been asked to investigate 14 of the 100-strong list of suspects distributed worldwide by FBI agents who are thought to have links with Osama bin Laden’s terror group, Al-Qaeda, The Times said.

And the investigations being carried on this side of the Atlantic can only pile more pressure on to the Government to toughen up its anti-terrorism laws, the newspaper claims.