Police in Northern Ireland were today given another 48 hours to question an al Qaeda suspect arrested by detectives investigating possible terrorist threats on Britain.
The 25-year-old man can now be held until Monday afternoon, a High Court judge ruled.
The Algerian was arrested by police at Maghaberry Prison outside Lisburn, Co Antrim last Monday. He had been held there with five other immigration detainees for the past six months.
Judge John Curran gave the police the extra time to question the suspect after a 30-minute hearing behind closed doors at Laganside Court in Belfast.
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde said earlier this week that the target for any possible attack may have been Britain rather than Northern Ireland.
Scotland Yard and security agencies in Europe were immediately alerted once the suspect was taken in for questioning and the Metropolitan Police have been liaising with officers in Belfast.
PA