Britain still on alert as bomb plot investigation continues

Delays and cancellationscontinued at airports around the world Friday amid an investigationinto an alleged plot to blow up commercial flightsbetween the United Kingdom andthe United States.

While security services remained on"critical" alert following the arrests of 19 British suspects, the Bank of England released their names and said their assets had been frozen.

"On the advice of the police and security services, the Treasury has instructed the Bank of England to issue notices to effect a freeze of the assets of a number of individuals arrested in yesterday's operations," the statement said.

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan said two British citizens were arrested a week ago and provided information on the plot, a senior Pakistani government official said. The arrests were reportedly made in the cities of Lahore and Karachi.

In addition to the two Britons, five other people were arrested, officials said. The fivewere arrested on suspicion that they served as local "facilitators" for the two Britons, an official said.

British Home Secretary John Reid told a news conference Friday that the United Kingdom was grateful for Pakistan's help in uncovering the plot.

The Guardian newspaper in Britain said that after the arrests were made in Pakistan, a message was sent from that country to Britain, telling the alleged plotters to"do your attacks now."

The message was intercepted and decoded earlier this week, the Guardian said.

Heightened security at airports

For a second day, airline passengers in Britain and around the world continued to feel the impact of the alleged plot and the heightened security resulting from the investigation.

More flights were cancelled at London's Heathrow airport. Officials estimated that about 70 per cent of flights were on schedule.

"It is going to be another difficult day today, both for airports and for passengers, but there is cause for optimism that we will get more flights off today," said Stephen Nelson, chief executive of the British Airports Authority.

"The situation at our airports remains difficult, but it is getting better," British Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander told a news conference.

Most suspects in mid-20s

The suspects listed in the Bank of England release range in age from 17 to 35, with the majority in their early to mid-20s.

Police announced Friday that one of 24 people who were being questioned in the investigation had been released without charge.

The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Asim Tariq, one of those arrested, had worked at Heathrow. Tariq was seen being taken away from his home by police on Thursday.

On Friday, Police were granted permission to hold suspects for questioning until next Wednesday. Undernew anti-terrorism laws, British police can ask the courts tohold suspects without charge for 28 days.

Reid told the news conference in London that officials believe they have the main suspects in custody, but said the national threat level remains critical.

"This is a common threat to all of us," Reid said.

In Washington, aU.S. federal law enforcement official said on Thursday that at least one martyrdom tape was found during raids across England.

Attacks wereonly days away

Officials said Thursday that the alleged plot would have been carried out within days.

The alleged plot, which apparently targeted as many as 10 commercial flights, involved using liquid explosives smuggled in hand luggage, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Paul Stephenson told reporters in London on Thursday.

The liquid explosives were to be disguised as beverages and other common products and set off with detonators disguised as electronic devices, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

Plotters had hoped to stage a dry run within two days to see if they could smuggle their material on to the plane, U.S. intelligence officials told the Associated Press. The actual attack was to follow within days.

One official said suicide attackers planned to use a peroxide-based solution that could ignite when sparked by a camera flash or another electronic device.

In response to the arrests, the U.S. government raised its threat alert to red, its highest level, for commercial flights from Britain to the U.S. It was the first time that the U.S. had done so.

The U.S. and Canada have bannedmost liquids and gels — including toothpaste, makeup and suntan lotion —from carry-on luggage on flights,making exceptions only forbaby formula and medicine.