Two Britons suspected of planning attack on British troops arrested in Afghanistan
Last updated at 10:55 AM on 21st July 2011
British armed forces have arrested two Britons in Afghanistan suspected of fighting for the Taliban.
The pair were held at a hotel in the western city of Herat in a joint raid with Afghan intelligence service the National Directorate of Security.
They were feared to have been planning an attack on British troops in the country.
Conflict: Two Britons have been arrested in Afghanistan by British soldiers for allegedly fighting for the Taliban (file picture)
The suspects, who are British passport-holders with dual nationality, are now being held by British troops in Helmand Province, according to The Times.
An unnamed senior Afghan official told the newspaper: 'It was terrorism-related. It was a UK-led operation.'
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that two people claiming to be British nationals had been detained.
A spokesman said: 'We can confirm that British forces have detained two individuals in Afghanistan who claim to be British nationals.
'We are not prepared to comment further at this stage.'
Attack: A joint operation by British troops and Afghan security led to the arrests at a hotel in Herat
A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We can confirm that two British nationals have been detained in Afghanistan.
'Embassy staff are providing assistance.'
Nato forces in Afghanistan normally hold suspects for a maximum of four days before releasing them or handing them over to Afghan authorities.
The Foreign Office spokesman added: 'The UK has a national policy of detaining beyond 96 hours in exceptional circumstances, in particular where it could provide information that could help protect our forces or the local population.'
It comes as British troops handed responsibility for security in the capital of war-torn Helmand province - Lashkar Gah - over to Afghan forces yesterday.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017136/Two-Britons-suspected-fighting-Taliban-arrested-Afghanistan.html#ixzz1Sjg6qNcd
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