British and Pakistani officials say they are confident that the main suspects in Wednesday's foiled airline terror plot have been detained.
British Home Secretary, Interior Minister, John Reid Friday praised everyone involved in Thursday's arrest of 24 suspects. Still, he said Britain's threat level remains at critical, and that the investigation will continue.
Officials say the suspects may have been just days away from smuggling liquid explosives onto as many as 10 U.S.-bound airplanes and blowing them up.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Friday identified one of the two British nationals of Pakistani descent they arrested in connection with the alleged plot.
A foreign ministry statement said Rashid Rauf, the main suspect in the foiled bomb plot, has al-Qaida connections.
Rauf and another suspect were arrested last week in Pakistan. Officials say the two provided crucial information about the plans, which was passed on to British and U.S. authorities.
Pakistani investigators are still establishing the identities of five others arrested, but they say those suspects appear to be less important.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao told VOA that Pakistan's key role in uncovering the alleged plot is part of its anti-terrorism policy. He said Pakistan is not acting under foreign pressure and will continue to help the international community in fighting terrorism.
