BRITAIN: Police were granted extra time last night to question nine suspects in custody over the alleged airline bomb plot, Scotland Yard sources said.
A high court judge sitting at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London granted officers an additional week to hold eight of the suspects.
The ninth suspect, named as Umair Hussain (24) from east London, had his custody extended for another 24 hours.
Under new anti-terror laws, which only came into force earlier this year, terror suspects can now be questioned for up to 28 days. The extensions granted yesterday are the first time any suspects have been held beyond the previous 14-day limit.
Earlier yesterday evening, police released without charge another suspect, named as Tayib Rauf (22), who had been in custody in Birmingham. An 11th suspect is still being held, Scotland Yard said.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "In all operations, some people may be released without charge while others may remain in custody for further investigation. This is not unusual and is to be expected in large and complex criminal inquiries where a number of arrests have taken place."
The judge's decision means officers can hold eight of the suspects until August 30th, and Mr Hussain until tomorrow night. Police can apply for a further week's custody next Wednesday.
Tim Rustem, Mr Hussain's solicitor, said he was pleased the judge rejected a police application to hold his client for an extra week. He said it was, "a big victory", adding: "It is a new system and we are all coming to terms with it. It is good to see the system works, where a high court judge can, in some cases, grant the full seven days but at the same time use discretion where, for example, it's only a circumstantial case."
Mr Rustem said Mr Hussain - one of three brothers arrested - was "quite upset" about the way police treated him and wanted to speak out about it on release.
Earlier this week, Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch, gave details of "Operation Overt".
He said police had seized bomb-making equipment, including chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, electrical components and documents.