British police extend detention of alleged bomb plotters

British authorities received warrants from a judge Wednesday to extend the detention of 23 people arrested in the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic jets.

The suspects,arrested last week in the initial sweep by police, are being held without charges.

Scotland Yard said that 21 of the suspects could be detained for questioning through Aug. 23, while another two could be detained until Aug. 21. No reason was given for the difference in the length of time.

New anti-terrorism laws in Britain give authorities the right to hold someone for 28 days without charges, but the government must make appearances before a judge during that period to arguefor the continued confinement.

Police also said a person arrested Tuesdayfor questioning has been released without charge.

Meanwhile, service at airports in Britain was reported to be inching slowly back to normal.

British Airways said it planned to operate 90 per cent of its flights out of Heathrow Airport on Wednesday and be back to a full schedule by Friday.

Since details of the alleged bomb plot were revealed, security and passenger screening at airports has been tightened, prompting the airline to cancel 1,100 flights, the BBC reported.

European Union security meeting

Also on Wednesday, Home Secretary John Reid held a security meeting with interior ministers from six European countries,along withEuropean Union counterterrorism and justice chiefs.

"The EU, indeed the wider world, is now confronted by a form of terrorism that is unconstrained in its evil intention," Reid told reporters after the briefing.

He also stressed the need to balance the rights of the individual with the collective right of security and said the group discussed transportation security.

Reid said that a small number of people being held in the alleged bomb plot case will likely not be charged with major criminal offences. However, he maintained that authorities have gathered evidence of a "substantial nature."

The EU minister in charge of justice, Franco Frattini, said Europe should consider profiling travellers based on biometric information such as fingerprints and voice characteristics.

"It has nothing to do with religious beliefs or discrimination," he said.

Profiling has caused great debate in the U.K., with many Muslims saying they feel unfairly targeted.British officials have said they are considering new security measures but declined to specify what they might include.