UK terrorism suspect linked to Canadian arrests-BBC

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) British police today said they had arrested a man using anti-terrorism powers at an airport in northern England, an operation the BBC reported was linked to last week's security swoop in Canada.

The 21-year-old man from Bradford was detained at Manchester Airport late yesterday and has been taken to a police station in West Yorkshire, a police spokesman said.

The BBC, citing unnamed sources, said the man, believed to be of Pakistani origin, was being questioned in connection with the arrest last week of 17 Muslim men in Canada who are accused of being al Qaeda sympathisers.

Several are charged with plotting bombings in major Canadian cities and training militants.

West Yorkshire Police said the report was ''speculation'' and would not comment further.

Officers are now searching three properties in Bradford as part of the investigation.

The arrest comes less than a week after police in London shot a man during a raid on a house they believed was being used to make a chemical bomb.

West Yorkshire police said no armed officers were involved in Tuesday's arrest and the operation was not related to the ongoing London inquiry.

REUTERS SHB VV1834