Seven held in terror sweep

Seven men of north African origin are being questioned by anti-terrorist detectives after being arrested in Edinburgh and London early this morning, police said today.

Three men were detained in Edinburgh in an operation led by Lothian and Borders Police.

A police spokesman said: "Four other men were arrested in London on behalf of Lothian and Borders Police by the Metropolitan Police.

"All seven men have been detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 and will be held at a secure location while inquiries continue.

"All the men are aged in their early thirties."

The arrests came two days after French police arrested four alleged Islamic radicals in a Paris suburb and seized an unidentified liquid and an anti-contamination suit.

French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the four - three Algerians and a Moroccan - had been in contact with Rabah Kadre, who was charged in Britain last month with two other suspects on terrorism-related charges.

Mr Sarkozy indicated that they were planning an attack, saying that "with these four individuals, it was better to arrest them before rather than after", although he refused to elaborate.

Agents also seized 5,000 dollars (£3,300), a computer and extremist Islamic documents when they took the four into custody in the suburb of La Courneuve.

Mr Sarkozy said the apartment raided also contained false identity papers, two vials of an undetermined liquid and "a protective military suit against biological, chemical and nuclear risks".

The chemicals could be used to pollute public drinking water systems.

"With people who have this type of material, it's obvious we did the right thing in arresting them," Mr Sarkozy added.

Shortly after the al Qaida terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, the British Government introduced emergency legislation allowing foreign nationals to be detained indefinitely without charge.

Foreign nationals whose presence is not "conducive" to the public good can be held under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, 2001 - although they are free to leave the country.

Civil liberties groups said the emergency laws amounted to "internment", and were irrational and disproportionate.

If, however, anyone is under suspicion of plotting a terrorist act they can be arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

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