Prestwich houses searched by anti-terror police

9:29am Monday 12th May 2008

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TWO houses in Prestwich have been searched by anti-terror police.

The raids followed the arrest of former Prestwich High School pupil Hassan Butt who previously claimed to have recruited hundreds of British Muslims to fight for al Qaida.

The 31-year-old was arrested on Friday at Manchester Airport where he was reportedly waiting for a flight to Lahore, Pakistan. Greater Manchester Police's Counter Terrorism Unit later searched three addresses, including two in Sheepfoot Lane, and another in north Manchester, with warrants under the Terrorism Act. Two cars were also taken away for forensic examination.

Hassan has spoken widely through the media about his past involvement with terrorist activity, which he says he has now renounced.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity and officers were involved in searching three addresses."