ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The government has detained the father of British airline bomb plot suspect Rashid Rauf, making him the third member of the family in custody worldwide, security officials said on Friday.

Senior officials said Abdul Rauf, 52, met his son shortly before the arrest in early August of 25-year-old Rashid, who is described by the government as a ‘key man’ in the conspiracy with links to Al Qaeda.

It was not clear whether Abdul Rauf, who has lived in Britain for decades, was in custody for questioning over his son’s alleged role in the conspiracy to blow up trans-Atlantic jets or if he was a suspect himself.

One source said he was picked up by intelligence agents from Islamabad airport.—AFP