90 charged under anti-terror laws

Since the terror attacks on New York and Washington, DC, on 11 September 2001, about 500 people have been held in the UK and about 90 have been charged.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said: "About a half of all arrests led to some sort of sanctions. About 90 people have been charged with some sort of terrorism activity and that is completely unprecedented." One hundred have been charged with other crimes, while 50 have been handed over to the immigration services.

Mr Clarke dismissed suggestions by human rights groups that police had adopted an "arrest first, investigate later" attitude. He said security services have also "undoubtedly" foiled planned terror attacks by al-Qa'ida followers in Britain and across Europe.

In February, it is believed a planned missile attack on a plane at Heathrow was averted when nearly 500 troops were deployed and last week London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, said four attempts to "cause mayhem and take life" in the city had been foiled.