British police are continuing to question a man suspected of having links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Neither police nor security sources confirmed an alleged link that Sky Newssaid the man had to Richard Reid, a British-born bin Laden follower jailed for life in January for trying to blow up a transatlantic flight with explosives stuffed in his shoes.
"There might possibly be a link but it might be something minor," a security source said.
Officers from the anti-terror branch arrested the 24-year-old British-born man of Asian origin during a raid in Gloucester. They later said they had found explosives at the address but did not elaborate.
The suspect was arrested on "suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". He was taken to a police station in nearby Wiltshire and then to London.
British Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "It is believed by the security and special branch services that this man has connections with the network of al Qaeda groups."
Officers also searched two addresses in Blackburn including an Islamic college, where the suspect was a former student.
A man (39) was also arrested by anti-terror police in Manchester, Scotland Yard said. However the source said this arrest was unconnected to the operation in Gloucester.