Terror arrests linked to PM threat
Gordon Brown and Tony Blair were allegedly targeted by the three men arrested last week on terror offences
Friday, 22, Aug 2008 06:45
The arrests of three men suspected of terror offences in Lancashire were linked to a threat on prime minister Gordon Brown, the BBC has claimed.
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 Qaeda 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 whom were arrested at Manchester Airport, before boarding a flight to Finland, while the third was arrest in Accrington.
Police have until Thursday to charge the men, after a judger granted them an additional seven days to hold them in custody two days ago.