'Old Trafford may have been terror target'

A packed football stadium could have been the target of an al-Qaida attack, it emerged today, as 10 people arrested in anti-terror raids were being questioned by police.

Suicide bombers may have been planning to attack Old Trafford and the City of Manchester football grounds, according to reports.

However, British police and the UK Home Office have refused to comment on possible targets.

Six men and a woman were arrested in Greater Manchester yesterday. Three other men were arrested in Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

All 10, described by police as North African and Iraqi Kurdish in origin, were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said the raids were part of an “ongoing operation related to the threat of terrorism”.

He added: “It is part of an ongoing operation that has been under way for some time and will continue in the future.

“This is the first action that the public have become aware of as it is overt, but nothing should be read into that.

“At this time we have nine men and one woman in custody.

“Our inquiries lead us to believe they are of Iraqi Kurd and North African origin.

“They are in police custody and will be interviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry.”

Police refused to confirm reports that the operation followed a large surveillance operation that involved the interception of telephone calls and messages.

Senior officers also refused to comment on suggestions that the Trafford Centre shopping mall may have been a target.

Mr Whatton said: “I am aware there is extensive speculation about possible targets. As with any counter-terrorist operation we will not confirm or deny any targets.”

Sources close to the Trafford Centre management dismissed the rumours as “speculation”.

The British Home Office refused to comment on reports that Old Trafford and the City of Manchester football stadiums may have been potential targets for an attack.

The Sun reported that a suicide bomb plot was planned for Old Trafford for the Manchester United home game with rivals Liverpool on Saturday.

The newspaper said intelligence chiefs believed al-Qaida fanatics planned to blow themselves up among the expected 67,000 fans and had already bought tickets.

The Times reported that Old Trafford, Manchester City’s new ground – the City of Manchester Stadium – or a major shopping centre in the city were possible targets.

It said security service surveillance suggested a possible attack aimed at “a large gathering of people”.

A spokesman for the British Home Office said last night: “There’s an ongoing police operation. A number of people have been arrested and are being questioned.

“It would therefore be inappropriate for the (UK) Government or Home Office to make any comment which might be prejudicial to these inquiries.

The overall operation, which involved more than 400 officers, was co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Police and also involved the security services and the Metropolitan Police’s Anti-Terrorist Branch.

The suspects can be held for questioning for 14 days without charge.

Police refused to confirm addresses for any of the raids but one is understood to have taken place at a flat above a takeaway food shop near Manchester city centre.

Officers cordoned off the area around the shop while forensic experts removed property from the flats for examination.

The operation came less than a month after eight men were detained during a series of raids across the south east of England which led to the recovery of 600kg of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which can be used in bomb making.