British police arrest suspected terrorist, set off explosives

British police carried out a controlled explosion yesterday in the city of Bristol after arresting a 19-year-old man under anti-terror laws, a spokesman said.

About 30 people were evacuated from nearby homes in the Westbury-on-Trim district.

The suspect was arrested on Thursday and was being questioned by police.

“It was a controlled explosion and the materials will be sent off for analysis,” Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said. “We responded to intelligence given to us in the last 24 hours.”

Roberts said it was too early to say whether any more arrests would be made.

“A 19-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon under the Terrorism Act 2000. He has been taken to a police station within the force area and a warrant was executed to search his home,” Roberts said.

“This is likely to be a prolonged, complex and sensitive inquiry which may take some time,” she said.

Britain has been under heightened terrorism alert in particular since July 2005 suicide bombings that killed 56 people on the London transport network.