Bomb plot arrests sow fear in London suburb

LONDON, Aug 10 (Reuters) Residents of an ethnically mixed area of east London were shocked and afraid today to learn at least one suspect in an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights may have grown up in their neighbourhood.

Police raided three houses in and around the district of Walthamstow, one of the main focuses of the overnight operation in which officers said 21 people were arrested, locals said.

They said one young man was taken from a small terraced house in the area, which lies about 10 km from central London.

Police stood watch outside the house on a quiet residential street while forensic examiners wearing blue suits and purple gloves scoured the interior and heavily armed officers furtively carried bags through the front door, its glass pane shattered.

White blinds were fully drawn across the windows of the house, which lies a stone's throw from a mosque.

Paul Kleinman, 66, a retired firefighter, said he had known the couple living in the house next door that was raided for about 25 years. They were polite and friendly, he said.

They had two sons, one of whom some nine years ago had begun to wear traditional Muslim dress and grow a beard.

Locals described their dismay and shock at the raids.

''When it's so close to home, it's a bit scary,'' said Sam Davis, 33, a woman working at a bakery a few streets away.

The area had problems with drug dealing. It was well policed by local officers but residents said they had never seen anything like the police presence this morning.

Police said earlier they had foiled a suspected plot to blow up several aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the United States in what Washington said might have been an attempted al Qaeda strike.

Arrests were made in London, southeast England and Britain's second city, Birmingham. Police have not named any of the suspects arrested.

Two police officers stood outside another house in Walthamstow that was raided in the early hours. One of the glass squares in the flimsy blue front door was broken. A ''Sold'' sign stood outside. Its windows were filthy and the front yard overgrown.

''It's a bit scary when you've got kids. I won't let my daughter out now,'' said roofer Eugene Rooney, 35.

Rooney said the area had traditionally had a large Asian population but recently many Eastern Europeans had moved in.

''It's a very normal area. There are lots of police patrols here anyway. But it's a safe neighbourhood, it's a real mix,'' said Rizwan Abbas, a 19-year-old student.

Reuters MQA VP0007