As they launched raids on the alleged Islamic terrorists plotting to blow up a dozen airplanes with explosives hidden in baggage, British authorities reached out to the Muslim Council of Britain and other radical Islamic front groups to make sure the police would be sufficiently sensitive to the needs of the Muslim community: Muslim leaders informed, but wary, of anti-terror raid.

Muslim community leaders were contacted by the police and Government officials early this morning as the first statements were released to the press.

Khurshid Ahmed, leader of the British Muslim Forum was rung by a chief superintendent from the Metropolitan Police and a senior official from the Department for Communities and Local Government just before 7am to be told the arrests had taken place.

The police also contacted Dr Muhammed Abdul Bari, General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, at 6.54am. He was told that a number of arrests had taken place “for the public’s safety” but given few details.

Mr Ahmed said that he felt the operation had been handled well but he warned that if the police failed to find any evidence to incriminate the people concerned then relations between the government and the Muslim community would deteriorate further.

“I was woken up by the police who said there was a threat to blow up a plane and that a number of arrests had been made,” he said. “Since then I have been in contact with people from the Home Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to find out what has been happening.”

Mr Ahmed said he had spent the morning contacting local authorities, police authorities and Muslim community groups to ensure there was no “backlash” when further information was released about the identity of those arrested. He had already spoken to leaders in Bradford, London and the Midlands.

A reminder: one quarter of British Muslims believe the 7/7 bombings in London were justified.