Guardian : Al Qaida 'sanctioned terror plot'

Al Qaida 'sanctioned terror plot'

Press Association | August 17, 2006

The alleged terror plot to blow up US-bound planes was probably sanctioned by al Qaida No.2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri, a senior Pakistani intelligence official said.

The latest investigations by Pakistan also indicate that a British national arrested in Pakistan, Rashid Rauf, was the planner of the attacks who recruited people to take part in the plot, the official said.

"We have reason to believe that it was al Qaida-sanctioned and was probably cleared by al-Zawahri."

As anti-terror detectives continued to question the 23 suspects held in the UK, intelligence officials in Pakistan disclosed further details of Rauf's alleged connections to the al Qaida terror network.

The arrest last week in Pakistan of Rauf, a British national and the brother of one of those detained in the UK, is widely believed to have triggered the police operation to smash the alleged plot.

Officials claimed he had been in contact - through intermediaries - with a high ranking al Qaida leader at large in neighbouring Afghanistan, and that he had met al Qaida figures inside Pakistan.

He also had links to the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed and was related by marriage to its leader, it was alleged.

Detectives were on Wednesday night granted more time to question the 23 suspects being held in London over the alleged plot. They have another week to continue questioning 21 of them, and another five days to question the other two.

However, the complexity of the case means they are likely to continue applying for a series of further extensions - taking them close to the limit of 28 days - before deciding whether to charge or release the suspects.

A person arrested in the Thames Valley area on Tuesday was released without charge on Wednesday night. Scotland Yard said: "In all operations, some people may be released early without charge while others may remain in custody for further investigation."

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