Explosives found in 'al-Qa'eda house' in UK

"The investigation ... overlapped the international
inquiries into the background of Richard Reid, the
British-born "shoe bomber", who tried to blow up a
transatlantic airliner with explosives hidden in his trainers."

 
Explosives found in 'al-Qa'eda house' 
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
(Filed: 28/11/2003) 

        Explosives were found last night at the Gloucester
home of a suspected al-Qa'eda terrorist held earlier in
the day.

        The explosives, said by Scotland Yard to be "a small
amount", were found at Sajid Badat's home in the main
Asian part of the city after an intensive search.

        They were safely removed from the house and the search
will resume today.

        A Yard spokesman said: "Throughout, public safety has
been the primary concern. We are confident there is no
longer a danger posed by explosives."

        Badat, 24, a British Muslim and Islamic scholar, was
taken to London for questioning.

        He can be held for up to seven days for questioning
under the Terrorism Act 2000.

        David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said: "It is the
belief of the security and Special Branch services that
this man has connections with al-Qa'eda.

        "We would not have taken these steps if we did not
believe that this individual posed a very real threat
to the life and liberty of our country.

        "It is another nail in the coffin of those who would
threaten our life and liberty."

        Security sources said it was too early to say whether
the explosives were to be used in a suicide attack.

        A source dismissed a report that Manchester United's
Old Trafford stadium was to be the target.

        Sources confirmed that the investigation that led to
Badat's arrest had overlapped the international
inquiries into the background of Richard Reid, the
British-born "shoe bomber", who tried to blow up a
transatlantic airliner with explosives hidden in his trainers.