Australia police get more time to question doctor

Canberra, July 9: An Australian judge ruled today that police should have another 48 hours to question an Indian doctor held over failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.

The judge in Brisbane approved the extension of a detention warrant allowing Australian authorities to hold Queensland hospital doctor Mohamed Haneef, suspected of having links to the United Kingdom plot, until 6pm (1300 hrs IST) on Wednesday.

''The extension will allow for the analysis of material obtained in the course of the investigation by joint counter-terrorism teams,'' an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesman told Reuters.

''The extension of time will also allow for inquiries and analysis of material to be conducted in overseas jurisdictions, including the UK.'' Haneef is one of six Indian doctors questioned in Australia over the suspected al Qaeda-linked plot in Britain. The others have already been released.

Two car bombs primed to explode in London's bustling theatre and nightclub district were discovered the day before a jeep crashed into the terminal building at Glasgow airport on June 30 and burst into flames.

Haneef was detained a week ago while trying to leave Australia with a one-way ticket to India. His family in India said he is innocent and planned only to visit his wife and newborn daughter.

Haneef was to phone his wife on Monday.

Australian police are examining more than 30,000 documents seized in raids spanning the country, including files on Haneef's laptop computer and mobile phone Sim cards left with the alleged UK bombers. British police arrived last week to help.

REUTERS

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