Anti-terror police hold four men returning from Kenya

LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) Four men who were arrested in Kenya last month after crossing the border from Somalia flew back to Britain today and were immediately detained under anti-terrorism laws.

The men, aged in their 20s and from the London area, were held at around 1220 hrs IST and taken into custody in the capital where police have nine hours to interview them.

''They have not been arrested,'' police said in statement.

''The men have been detained ... in order for us to investigate the circumstances leading up to their detention by the Kenyan authorities.'' Police said the four men were arrested by Kenyan police on or around January 21 after crossing the border from Somalia.

The men, who flew into Britain from Nairobi, were held under a ''port and border controls'' section of the Terrorism Act 2000, which says a person may be detained and questioned for up to nine hours to determine if he is involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Reuters DKA VV1739