Terror raid detainees denied bail

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Four men held without charge since last month's anti-terrorism raids in north-west England have been refused bail.

The Pakistani nationals, who were arrested in Liverpool, Lancashire and Manchester, are fighting deportation.

The Home Office told a Special Immigration Appeals Commission hearing the men had links to al-Qaeda and posed a threat to national security.

But lawyers for the men said there was no evidence against them and the Crown Prosecution Service brought no charges.

'Secret evidence'

The four men are amongst a group of 10 Pakistani nationals who were arrested on 8 April and are appealing deportation.

Three others have bail hearings scheduled for July.

The commission heard some evidence in secret, which neither the men nor their lawyers were allowed to hear.

It also heard suggestions that it was politically expedient to remove the men after the failure of the police operation.

A total of 14 properties were raided across north-west England in connection with an alleged planned bomb attack.

Police found pictures of shopping centres in Manchester and a nightclub, the BBC learned.

The raids were brought forward after the UK's most senior counter-terrorism police officer - who has since resigned - sparked a security alert.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick inadvertently revealed a secret document to photographers when he arrived for a briefing at No 10 Downing Street.