U.K. seeks extradition of air plot suspect

LONDON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The U.K. government has requested that a British man suspected of being a key figure in an alleged airliner plot be extradited from Pakistan.

Rashid Rauf, 25, has been held by Pakistani authorities since being arrested Aug. 9. He is suspected of having links to Islamist militant groups in Pakistan and is reported to have provided vital information that led to the disruption of the alleged plot on Aug. 10.

Britain was put on a state of critical alert as police arrested 24 people in a series of raids in connection with an alleged plot to blow up airliners en route to the United States. Eleven people have been charged and remanded in custody, while a further 12 are still being questioned by police. One man, Rauf's brother Tayib, 22, was arrested and released without charge.

Surprisingly, however, Rauf's extradition has been requested in connection with the death of his uncle in 2002. There have been unconfirmed reports that the stabbing was an honor killing. The British Home Office declined to provide any further details Tuesday but it has previously been reported that Rauf moved to Pakistan shortly after the death.

A spokeswoman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Monday that Rauf was being investigated for alleged links to al-Qaida and in connection with terror threats in Britain and Pakistan.

Speaking at a ministry press briefing, she indicated Pakistan would not refuse the extradition request.

Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said Saturday that Rauf had given Pakistani interrogators "vital clues" about the plot. He claimed Rauf, who has dual British and Pakistani nationality, had "wider international links" and was in touch with an Afghanistan-based al-Qaida leader.