No comment on airline bomb kit reports

London, Aug 18: British police investigating last week's suspected plot to blow up airliners refused to comment today over media reports that they had found a suitcase full of items that could make a bomb.

According to BBC television the bomb components were uncovered during searches of woodlands near High Wycombe, a town west of London where several of the 23 suspects held in the suspected plot were arrested.

''We are not saying anything other than a number of searches are ongoing,'' a spokesman at Scotland Yard said.

The searches are part of police investigations into the suspected plot to detonate liquid explosives disguised as drinks on trans-Atlantic flights, which British authorities say could have rivalled the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Police are questioning 23 British-born Muslims, mainly of Pakistani descent, after a judge granted extra time to hold them.

With the judge's permission, they can be held for up to 28 days without charge under new powers introduced last month.

One person arrested during last Thursday's raids was released shortly afterwards and another arrested separately this week has also released without charge.

Pakistan has also arrested seven people in the case, including at least two British nationals.

Reuters