Three Manchester terror suspects released

Two men and a woman held following a major anti-terrorism operation across northern England last week have been released without…

Two men and a woman held following a major anti-terrorism operation across northern England last week have been released without charge.

The three, all from the Manchester area, were freed after hearings at the city's magistrates court on Friday and Saturday, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said.

"Under the Terrorism Act 2000, people have to either charged or released completely, as you cannot bail people under this legislation," the spokesman said.

Ten people were held in a series of anti-terror raids involving 400 police officers across northern England last Monday.

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Police said detectives had obtained warrants from the court for further time to question the seven other men.

The detainees, said by local media to be of North African and Iraqi Kurdish origin, were arrested "on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

Their arrests prompted newspaper speculation of a plot to blow up Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium during last Saturday's high-profile fixture against Liverpool, as some of the suspects were said to have had tickets for the game.

Neither police, the government nor the club would confirm that Old Trafford was a target, but security was stepped up for the match.