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Blair backs police on terror raidMuslim leader warns trust could break down
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLONDON, England -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is "101 percent" behind police officers who conducted an anti-terrorist raid during which a suspect was shot. The 23-year old man was shot during the dawn raid last Friday when more than 200 police officers, some in chemical protection suits, stormed their home in east London. The circumstances of the raid remain unclear. The man and his 20-year-old brother were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a terrorist plot to produce a chemical bomb. Both deny the allegations. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman said Monday that officers had not found a terrorist device in the house, but said police had had no choice but to act. (Full story) "I support the police 101 percent -- and the security services," Blair said in an interview Webcast on his official Internet site. "I think if they have a reasonable piece of intelligence and they believe they have got to investigate -- take action on -- they should. You can only imagine if they fail to take action and something terrible happened what outcry would be then, so they are in an impossible situation." But anger was growing over the raid with the leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organization saying trust between police and the community in east London could break down. In his first public engagement since his election as Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammed Abdul Bari said people were questioning what had taken place. During a visit to the area on Monday, he said: "The message is the confusion, it's the frustration and to some extent anger. "People want to know what exactly happened and about the intelligence -- is it genuine information, is it flawed -- these are the questions police have to answer as soon as possible. "Trust could be an issue. Trust could break down if things are not clarified. "Angry people can do anything, angry people can even feel that they should take the law into their own hands so anger has to be directed into positive action." On Monday, Hayman said police been given "specific intelligence" about the address. He refused to disclose what the information related to, when it had been received or whether it had originated from the police or the security service MI5. However, he said: "It is very important that I emphasize the police did receive specific intelligence. "We were left with no choice but to act upon that intelligence. Public safety was our top priority." The man who was shot, Mohammed Abdul Kahar, was arrested while being treated in hospital and then transferred to Paddington Green high security police station. Solicitor Kate Roxburgh said doctors allowed him to be interviewed by detectives on Monday night. She said it was a "preliminary interview" and more questioning was expected Tuesday. His 20-year-old brother was detained under the Terrorism Act on Friday and taken to Paddington Green where he was interviewed by police. Police have until later on Wednesday to either release the men, charge them or apply for further time to question them. 
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