A 24-year-old man linked with al Qaeda was arrested in Gloucester yesterday on suspicion of planning a suicide bombing.

Scotland Yard said that a "relatively small amount" of explosives had been found at his residence.

David Blunkett, the home secretary, said: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this man has connections with the network of al Qaeda groups - that is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

"Obviously the forensic evidence will be absolutely crucial here and I do not want to in any way damage the future trial, but we would not have taken these steps if we did not believe that this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of our country."