JURIST - Paper Chase: British judge allows second extension of detentions for uncharged terror suspects

[JURIST] A High Court judge in London on Wednesday granted requests by Scotland Yard [official website] to extend the detentions of 9 of 11 uncharged suspects in custody in connection with an alleged airline bombing plot [JURIST report] said to have been foiled by police. Eight suspects had their detentions extended to August 30, the first time a British court has authorized a longer than 14-day detention without charge under the new Terrorism Act of 2006 [PDF], which permits detention for up to 28 days. A ninth suspect had his detention extended until Thursday. Two other suspects were freed.

A total of 24 men were arrested during raids on UK properties on August 10, and on Tuesday, police charged 11 suspects [JURIST report] total, eight with conspiracy to commit murder and with preparing acts of terrorism, one with possession of articles useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism, and two with failing to disclose information of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism. One detainee was released on Tuesday; police had previously released another without charge [JURIST report] last week while arresting an additional suspect [JURIST report]. In connection with the investigation police have executed a total of 46 property searches, 22 of which remain ongoing. Nineteen of the named suspects [list] have had their assets frozen by the Bank of England [corporate website]. AP has more. British lawyers have suggested, however, that Scotland Yard may have already prejudiced the case against the plotters [ABC Australia report] by revealing to the media too many details [Metropolitan Police Service press release] of the evidence against them.

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