LONDON, Feb 8: The British prime minister and the leader of the opposition on Thursday rebutted assertions that the country had become “a police state” for Muslims.

The two leaders’ statements came in response to an outburst by Abu Bakr, who was arrested, questioned and then released without charge over an alleged kidnap plot.

Abu Bakr, who is studying for a PhD in Political Islam, had made the remarks on Wednesday on BBC Two’s Newsnight.

Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected as “categorically wrong” the allegation that the UK had turned into a police state for Muslims.

Conservative leader David Cameron denied the law singled out Muslims. “The terror laws apply to everybody; it’s not right to say we are a police state.”

The prime minister’s spokesman said anyone arrested in a police state would not have been freed and allowed to appear on television.

Mr Bakr, from Birmingham, when asked about his arrest, questioning and subsequent release without charge, told the BBC: “It’s a police state for Muslims. It’s not a police state for everybody else because these terror laws are designed specifically for Muslims and that’s quite an open fact.”

Mr Bakr said he became aware of the police forcing their way into his house last Wednesday by his wife screaming.