British Terror Raids Net Nine

This story was written by CBS News correspondent Richard Roth.

"We're not talking today about a direct threat to the U.K.," said Chief Constable Michael Todd of the Greater Manchester Police. "We are talking about the facilitation of terrorism overseas. That could include funding, providing support and encouragement to terrorists."

Police said seven people were arrested in Manchester, one near Liverpool and one in London. Of the nine, five were being held under immigration laws and two were arrested under the Terrorism Act; two others were released within hours of their arrest.

Todd called the early morning raids "a major anti-terrorist operation" based on at least a year's intelligence-gathering, "looking at the funding and support of terrorist activities overseas." But authorities provided no details of the alleged crimes.

Police would not comment on a report by the British Press Association, which said the arrests were related to terrorism in Iraq.

However, one man arrested in Manchester, 44-year old Tahir Nasuf, has previously been accused by the U.S. Department of the Treasury of helping to finance an alleged al Qaeda affiliate.

Libyan-born Nasuf works for the Sanabel Relief Agency in Manchester, an organization which says it raises money to help impoverished Muslims, but which the U.S. calls a "charitable front operation" funding terrorists. Sanabel's assets have been frozen by the United Nations.

Last February, the U.S. called Nasuf a "middle-ranking member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)," which it said cooperates with al Qaeda worldwide; Nasuf has denied a connection with the LIFG.

By Richard Roth