Terror suspect arrested by the Yard

Scotland Yard has arrested a leading terror suspect in London, it emerged today.

Mr Halali is the first highprofile suspect held in Britain under new legislation.

Some sources claim he may have had direct links to the September 11 and Madrid bomb attacks, making him one of the most significant Islamic terror suspects held by police.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Farad Halali has been arrested on suspicion of his involvement in a terrorist organisation.

"He appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on 28 June on a European arrest warrant to Spain, alleging he committed terrorist offences." He was remanded in custody at Belmarsh Prison and will appear in court again on 5 July.

Scotland Yard will not discuss the offences he is linked to. It is alleged Mr Hilali, from Morocco, is also known as Shakur - a man previously revealed to have telephoned the chief of al-Qaeda's Madrid cell shortly before the September 11 attacks.

In a tapped call on 27 August 2001, Shakur said he had "entered into the field of aviation"-and "cut the throat of an eagle". Three weeks earlier the agent had called to say: "I am preparing certain things which should please you."

He gave a warning that his phone was "hot", which suggested that he realised that the conversation could be tapped.

The calls are reported to have been made from New Cross or Peckham.

Voice analysis and detective work, sources claim, led police to believe that Mr Hilali and Shakur are the same person.

The name Shakur appeared alongside Osama bin Laden and 33 others on an indictment in Spain last September, for allegedly using the country as a base to plot September 11.

Mr Hilali was arrested by the Met last September. He was not then charged, but detained at Belmarsh after it was found he was an illegal immigrant.