Computer Programmer Arrested

Scotland Yard says a computer programmer has been arrested on charges of collecting information that could be used to plan a terrorist attack.

According to a Scotland Yard spokesman, Mohammed Abdullah Azam, 32, from Luton, 30 miles north of London, was arrested Sunday and has been charged under the anti-terrorism laws.

The spokesman says Azam has been charged with collecting information "of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or had in his possession documents or records containing information of that kind."

The spokesman has not supplied any other details about Azam or the case, and says he has no information about whether the suspect is linked to any specific group or organization.

Police said Azam is not a British citizen. They haven't said what country is his homeland.

Azam is due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London on Thursday.

Three other men, two aged 21 and one aged 23, were also arrested with Azam on Sunday in Luton under the Terrorism Act. They were released Wednesday.

On Sept. 6, David Veness head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist squad said there was no known specific threat to Britain and encouraged people to carry on "business as usual."

At that same time he added that it would not be wise to underestimate the risk of terrorist acts. "An individual is not incapable of causing serious impact and that is something we are alert to. Our intention is to enhance the deterrent," said Veness.

Veness added that security forces and police are better prepared to deal with any terror attacks than they were a year ago and his officers had received advice following Sept. 11 from police in other countries with more experience of suicide bombers.