Al Qaida members plotted to attack the House of Commons, reports the Indian press.

A man under arrest in India is a top member of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network and was part of a suicide squad planning an attack in London, the Hindustan Times reported on Thursday.

Mohammad Afroz Abdul Razzak, 28, was detained by Mumbai police on October 2 and by December 20 police will either submit a formal list of charges against him or seek more time for questioning.

Razzak said that four suicide squads had been formed by al Qaeda. They were to carry out attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, the British parliament, targets in Australia and Parliament House in New Delhi, India. He was alleged to be a member of a suicide squad designated to attack Britain, having been trained as a pilot in Australia.

Police sources said Razzak sent an email to an address in Australia mentioning plans to attack the House of Commons after hijacking a plane. During interrogation it emerged that Razzak had frequently visited Australia, America, Britain, Hong Kong and China between 1997 and 2001.

Indian home minister Lal Krishna Advani said Razzak had been part of "a massive conspiracy."