London: British police arrested three men on Thursday in connection with the July 7, 2005, suicide bomb attacks that killed 52 commuters on London's transport system.
The men were arrested by counter-terrorism police "on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism" in the north of England, a police statement said.
Two were arrested at Manchester airport where they were due to fly to Pakistan. The third was arrested in a house in Leeds, a northern city which was home to three of the suicide bombers.
In the nearly two years since the attacks, British police have consistently said they were searching for any accomplices. No one has yet been charged in connection with the attacks, in which all four bombers died.
British police can hold terrorism suspects for up to 28 days without charge but must seek a judge's permission at regular intervals during this period.
The suspects were taken to a central London police station to be questioned. Searches were under way at five houses in the Leeds area and two premises in east London, the police said.
"We are determined to follow the evidence wherever it takes us to identify any other person who may have been involved, in any way, in the terrorist attacks," the police said.
"We need to know who else, apart from the bombers, knew what they were planning. Did anyone encourage them? Did anyone help them with money, or accommodation?"
A police source said there was nothing to suggest at this stage the suspects were involved in making the bombs used in the attacks.
"We are establishing whether they had any involvement at all with the 7/7 bombings," the source said.
"There was nothing to suggest they were deliberately trying to escape police. They were due to fly out so we picked them up before they did so."
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