UK police free 1 bomb plot suspect, hold 9

LONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) British anti-terrorism police today freed one suspect and obtained permission to continue questioning nine others in a suspected plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners.

Police had already charged 11 suspects yesterday in the suspected plot and were holding 11 others today before they announced in a statement that one had been freed. They did not name him.

They later said they had obtained a judge's permission to continue questioning eight others for a further week, and one for just 24 hours.

One other suspect was still being held without charge, and must be freed later on Wednesday if a judge does not permit police to continue questioning him.

Under new anti-terrorism powers that came into force last month, police can hold suspects without charge for up to 28 days, but must seek a judge's permission every seven days.

British police announced on August 10 they had thwarted the plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic.

Those charged yesterday included eight British Muslims accused of conspiracy to murder and three accused of other terrorism-related offences. Police gave the first description of the evidence in the case on Tuesday, saying they had found bomb-making materials, suicide notes and ''martyrdom videos''.

REUTERS VJ BST0156