British can hold suspects while terror plot probed

LONDON – A district judge ruled Wednesday that British investigators have until next week to investigate the suspects arrested in an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10 trans-Atlantic jetliners, saying they could be kept in custody without charge.

Scotland Yard later said a person arrested on Tuesday as part of its investigation into the foiled plot was released without charge. Another detainee was released without charge Friday.

The judicial order was the first major test of a new terrorism law that lets suspects be held for as long as 28 days without charge so investigators can solidify their cases.

The hearing, which addressed the cases of 23 suspects arrested in Britain’s initial sweep last week, was held behind closed doors and attended only by the suspects’ lawyers, investigators and government officials.

Scotland Yard said that 21 of the suspects could be detained for questioning through Wednesday, while another two could be detained until Monday. No reason was given for the difference in the length of time.

Experts say the primary reason police could use nearly a month to complete a probe is because of the complexity of investigations into the alleged plot to smuggle liquid explosives hidden in hand luggage aboard flights.

“You’ve got laptops, you have to bring in translators to translate all the documents in there, and sometimes it’s inopportune to release all your suspects – particularly terrorism suspects – while all that is being downloaded and translated,” said Cliff Knuckey, a retired police detective who has worked on terrorism investigations.

Home Secretary John Reid, Britain’s chief law-and-order official, acknowledged that some of the suspects would likely not be charged with major criminal offenses, but said there was mounting evidence of a “substantial nature” to back the allegations.

Twenty-four suspects have been arrested in Britain and as many as 17 people in Pakistan, including alleged ringleader Rashid Rauf.