Scottish police hold three under anti-terrorism law

LONDON, Apr 24 (Reuters) Scottish police today arrested three men as part of an ongoing anti-terrorism operation, less than two weeks after they held another man using security powers.

Two men, aged 40 and 25, were held at an address in Alva, Clackmannanshire, under the Terrorism Act 2000 and a third, aged 46, from nearby Bridge of Allan, was later arrested at Stirling Police Office.

''This is a major ongoing inquiry and the force cannot comment on the details of the investigation,'' Central Scotland Police said in a statement.

''However, there remains nothing to suggest a direct threat to communities, the threat levels to the UK remain unchanged and an extensive reassurance strategy is in operation.'' Last Wednesday, police were given seven more days to question a 20-year-old also arrested under the Terrorism Act in Alva on April 13.

Detectives refused to say what that operation concerned, but afterwards police and members of the Central Scotland Islamic Centre issued a statement reassuring minority ethnic and Muslim communities that there was ''no need for alarm''.

REUTERS SHB KP2231