Police hold suspect over failed July 21 terror strike

A suspected terrorist was arrested at Gatwick airport yesterday in connection with the attempted suicide bomb attacks on London's transport network on 21 July. The 23-year-old British citizen from north London is believed to have left Britain in June and was seized as he flew in from Ethiopia.

The suspect was being questioned on suspicion of providing logistical support to the alleged extremists involved in the attempted bombings. He is not thought to be a bomb maker or terrorist leader. He was arrested at 5am by unarmed police officers, who were waiting for him as he disembarked from a flight from Addis Ababa. There are unconfirmed reports that he had been arrested and later released in Ethiopia by local police.

His home in Tottenham, north London, was searched on Friday last week, and although papers and other material were removed, no explosives or bombmaking equipment were discovered. Officers waited until he had left the plane before arresting him.

The Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist branch is thought to have wanted to question him since his name came up during their investigations. His name would have been logged on a ports and airports alert system that automatically forewarns the authorities.

He was held by officers from Sussex Police and the Met's anti-terrorist branch under the Terrorism Act 2000 and taken to Paddington Green police station in central London. He is the 43rd person to be arrested in connection with the investigation into the events of 21 July. So far, 15 people have been charged.