British Airways staff in second ‘terror’ arrest

The Sun:

By MIKE SULLIVAN, Crime Editor

A HEATHROW Airport worker was last night under arrest over a terrorist fund-raising plot.
The man is the second British Airways employee in a week held on suspicion of raising cash for an attack - possibly on a jet.

Anti-terror cops swooped on the homes of the airport worker and two other men in Slough, Berks, at 5am yesterday.

The suspects - aged 31, 32 and 43 - are being held at London's top security Paddington Green police station.

A 30-year-old BA worker was held at the firm's Newcastle call centre a week ago.

And more arrests are expected, security sources say.

"We believe there may well be further arrests", the source added. "Urgent background checks are being carried out on the suspects and their associates.

"Others may well come into the frame."

A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed last night's swoop was linked to last Thursday's arrest of a worker, 30, at BA's call centre in Newcastle.

The men are all being held under the Terrorism Act 2000 for fund-raising. But the BA connection has rung alarm bells with security chiefs.

A source said: "It is very concerning given the allegations. We believe the men were engaged in trying to raise money for al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism in this country.

"No specific target has emerged but the airport link is obviously on our minds."

Searches of the Slough suspects' homes were carried out yesterday and computer equipment and documents taken away for examination.

The UK terror level remains "severe" - one below the top category of critical.

It was raised after ex-London student Umar Abdulmutallab's failed attempt to blow up a jet over Detroit on Christmas Day.

Sources say they have no specific intelligence of an imminent attack.

A BA spokesman told The Sun: "We take all matters relating to security extremely seriously. It would be inappropriate to comment further."