One of those arrested has since been released without being charged. The rest can be kept behind bars for 28 days without charges. Their assets have been frozen by the Bank of England, which published on its website the names of 19 of those arrested. Their personal details have been featured in the media across the country.

An article in the August 10 issue of the London Times said the police made the arrests after an international surveillance operation that monitored meetings, travel, spending, and expressed aspirations of a large group of people. The spying operation reportedly began in December 2005, triggered by the capture of a British national in Pakistan.

British prime minister Anthony Blair said his administration had an “enormous amount of co-operation with U.S. authorities,” in this operation. John Reid, the home secretary, also thanked the Pakistani government for its assistance.

“Pakistan played a very important role in uncovering and breaking this international terrorist network,” said Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam. “There were some arrests in Pakistan, which were coordinated with arrests in the UK.”

British officials said the “British Muslim community” aided the spying operation that led to the arrests.

In addition to the governing Labour Party, both main opposition parties have backed the operation. David Davies, shadow home secretary and member of the Conservative party, said, “Normally you will find me very skeptical of the government and some of its actions on terror but here I don’t think there’s any argument.”

Reid said the UK’s main political parties are “completely united” over the government’s action to prevent a “terror plot” that would have caused “unprecedented” carnage. He added that the government was engaged in a “long, wide and deep struggle against very evil people.”

According to the International Herald Tribune, Reid told the media August 13 that “24 other major terrorist conspiracies” were still under surveillance by MI5, UK’s main “counterterrorism” agency, and other police forces. “There are still people out there who would carry out such attacks,” Reid said. “The threat of a terrorist attack in the UK is still very substantial.”

Speculations have appeared in the media here that the government may use the arrests to extend the period suspected “terrorists” can be detained without charges from 28 days to 90. Reid told the BBC, however, the arrests do not represent “a good time” to look at such measures.

Just a month ago two UK-based Islamist groups—Al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect—were banned under laws outlawing the “glorification of terrorism.”

In a note of caution, three Muslim Members of Parliament and others sent an open letter to Anthony Blair in which they urged “the Prime Minister to redouble his efforts to tackle terror and extremism and change our foreign policy,” reported BBC. The letter said London’s policy in the Middle East is putting at risk civilians at home. Signatories included the Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Association of Britain, British Muslim Forum, and 35 other community groups.

Kim Howells, the secretary of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs, responded by telling the BBC the letter was “facile.” He said, “I have no doubt that there are many issues which incite people to loath the government policies but not to strap explosives to themselves and go out and murder innocent people.”

A Downing Street spokesman defended London’s participation in the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the BBC, he said, in response to the letter, “We should always remember that the terrorism affecting the West today has blighted Muslim countries for several decades. It certainly predated our decision to support democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq and of course the September 11 attacks. Our foreign policy is focused on supporting the people of those countries in their desire to live in a democracy.”

On the day of the arrests Heathrow and several other airports were brought to a virtual standstill. Since then thousands of flights have been cancelled as draconian security measures have been introduced at UK airports.

Authorities banned all hand baggage on board planes except essential travel documents and small wallets, carried in clear plastic bags. All liquids, powders, and gels are banned—from water bottles to toothpaste and makeup. Baby milk and baby formula are allowed only if parents can taste them in front of security guards to show they are harmless. All passengers are being body searched and their shoes X-rayed. Passengers bound for the United States are being searched again at their boarding gate.

Conservative leader Davis has called for the troops to be sent into the UK’s major airports to “help with the security check,” reported the August 14 Yorkshire Post.  
 
 
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