Terror threat to Queen

Mar 31, 2006, 16:09 GMT

A man's mystery illness sparked fears of a terror plot against Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday (30.03.06).

Armed police swooped on Staffordshire general hospital when doctors became suspicious about the sick man's symptoms and the behaviour of four men with him.

The security scare was sparked when nurses thought the Asian man might be suffering explosive poisoning.

Suspicions increased when it was revealed the patient lives near Stafford University - due to be visited by the queen and husband Prince Philip today (31.03.06).

The men were arrested for questioning under anti-terrorist laws and parts of the hospital were sealed off.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper, tests revealed the 28-year-old man was not suffering explosive poisoning but had a viral infection.

The patient remains 'very ill' after being moved to a specialist unit in another hospital.

A spokesman for Staffordshire police is quoted in Britain's Guardian newspaper as saying: 'We were contacted by staff who were concerned about the nature of his illness and what they felt was the suspicious behaviour of four men with him.'

Chief Inspector Cliff Grainger said: 'We are still unsure of what we are dealing with. At this stage, there is no evidence that a terrorist incident has taken place, nor that there is any specific threat.

'The arrests were made under the Terrorism Act, which affords us the opportunity of investigating what at this stage appears to be a complex set of circumstances.'

Copyright 2006 BANG Media International