British police have arrested six more people on terrorism charges, and four arrested earlier in connection with the discovery of a highly toxic poison have appeared in court.
A police spokesman says five men and a woman arrested Sunday are being held in the south coastal town of Bournemouth. He would not confirm that they are linked to the poison investigation, but said that no poison was found at the scene of the latest arrests.
Seven men were arrested in north London last week after an anti-terrorist raid at an apartmentuncovered traces of the deadly poison ricin. Four of them, all of North African origin, appeared in court today (Monday) to be arraigned on terrorism charges. The men, ranging in age from 17 to 33, are being held without bail and are scheduled to return to court Friday.
The poison ricin is extracted from the castor bean, the source of castor oil. The toxin can be inhaled, swallowed or injected, and an extremely small dose can be fatal. Ricin has no known antidote.
Health officials have asked doctors and hospitals across Britain to be alert for symptoms of ricin poisoning -- which include severe headaches, nausea and high fever.