British Terror Suspects Held In Afghanistan

A British man and woman suspected of plotting UK terrorist attacks are still being quizzed a week after they were arrested in Afghanistan.

The couple were reportedly in the war-torn country in an effort to link up with the Taliban or al Qaeda to learn bomb-making skills.

Limited details of their arrest emerged on Thursday with authorities only confirming two British nationals had been detained.

The pair are thought to be in their late 20s and are known to Britain's security intelligence agency MI5.

They are reportedly of Afghan origin and are understood to have dual nationality.

They were taken into custody after British troops, joined by members of the Afghan intelligence service, swooped on their room at the International Trade Centre hotel in Herat, near the Iranian border, last week.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the couple had been under surveillance as part of a joint operation involving British police and Afghan security intelligence agents.

The newspaper also said undercover officers raided several hotels in the Herat area, showing people pictures of the suspects and asking of their whereabouts, before the man and woman were arrested.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that two British passport-holders were being held.

It said in a statement: "The individuals, a male and a female, are currently being held in a secure facility in Kandahar for questioning.

"No further information will be released at this stage."

Nato forces in Afghanistan normally hold suspects for a maximum of four days before releasing them or handing them over to the Afghan authorities.

But a Foreign Office spokeswoman said this has been extended.

Clive Stafford Smith, from the legal charity Reprieve, which campaigns for prisoners' rights, has warned they could be tortured or get the death penalty if they are transferred to Afghan custody.

He said he hopes to launch a legal battle to have them repatriated to Britain.

An MoD spokesman added that all detention operations were conducted in "accordance with international law and strict policy frameworks".

Britain has about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan as part of international forces fighting the Taliban insurgency.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced earlier this month that Britain would withdraw 500 troops by the end of next year, but would keep soldiers there in a training role until at least 2023.

His announcement came a fortnight after President Barack Obama announced a big drawdown of US forces in the war-torn country.