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….from VOA News….

By Sonja Pace
London
02 July 2007

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British police say they have arrested two more men, bringing the number of arrests to seven. Police say they are searching for more suspects in connection with attempted car bombings in Glasgow, Scotland and central London. VOA’s Sonja Pace reports from the British capital.

Police arrested the two men, said to be in their 20s, near Glasgow. Five others are already in custody and an intensive manhunt continues for additional suspects.

Early Friday police found two abandoned cars in London, filled with gas canisters, gasoline and nails. They say had the explosives been detonated, hundreds of people might have been killed.

A day later, two men tried to ram their burning sport utility vehicle into the entrance of the Glasgow airport terminal. The two men were subdued and arrested, one remains in a local hospital with severe burns on his body.

Investigators declined to identify the suspects, but British television and newspapers say one of the men may have worked at North Staffordshire Hospital in central England. A hospital spokeswoman declined comment. Some reports say one of those held is a physician who completed medical school in Jordan.

Police believe they are dealing with a terrorist cell either linked to or inspired by al Qaida.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says the public reaction has been encouraging.

“People were still going out and about in London,” said Smith. “We saw all of the concerts and activities over the weekend, people are still going off through airports to travel away on their holidays, that is the way we should respond to this. Alongside that obviously we need the increased security measures that are in place and we need the public to carry on being as vigilant as possible.”

The terrorism alert level remains at its highest stage, critical, as the investigation continues. Security has been stepped up around the country, especially at airports and other public places and events, including at the international tennis tournament at Wimbledon.

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