Terror cops question man

9:52pm Sunday 11th May 2008

ANTI-terror police are questioning a man who has previously claimed to have recruited hundreds of British Muslims to fight for al Qaida.

Hassan Butt was arrested at Manchester Airport where he was reportedly waiting for a flight to Lahore, Pakistan.

A police spokesman said: "Greater Manchester Police's Counter Terrorism Unit arrested one person under the Terrorism Act on the afternoon of Friday May 9.

"Officers are currently searching three addresses with warrants under the Terrorism Act.

"No armed officers were involved in the arrest."

Police have confirmed one of the properties being searched was in Bury and another in north Manchester.

Manchester-born Butt has spoken widely through the media about his past involvement with terrorist activity, which he says he has now renounced.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight last month, he said: "I started realising it's not as black and white - how could I justify killing these people because these people are living amongst us."