UK charity probed in airline bomb plot inquiry

LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) Britain's charity watchdog froze the bank accounts of aid group Crescent Relief today as part of a probe to see whether aid money had been channelled to groups suspected of plotting to blow up airliners.

The Charity Commission, a British government department, said it had launched a formal inquiry into the UK-based group, which raised money for the victims of last year's earthquake in Pakistan, after allegations in British newspapers.

''We've looked at what has been reported, and we do our own work around that, and we think there is a case to answer,'' said Chris Kiggell, a commission spokesman.

One British newspaper said some of the people arrested on suspicion of plotting to blow up airliners flying to the United States earlier this month had been involved with Crescent Relief's money raising efforts last year.

''The accounts have been frozen so we can look at how that money is moving properly,'' said Kiggell. ''The allegations are sufficiently clear and serious for us to take this step.

The charity was not immediately available for comment.

REUTERS PB RAI2301