Terrorist suspects good British boys

Don and Heather Stewart-Whyte

The convert and the catwalk model

Forensic experts are still searching five properties in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, after arresting six men under anti-terror laws.

They include Abdul Waheed, known as Don Stewart-Whyte before converting six months ago, and Umar Islam, 28. Waheed, 20, half-brother of catwalk model Heather Stewart-Whyte who was once married to French tennis star Yannick Noah, is the son of an agent for the Conservative Party and a sports teacher.

Another convert, Umar Islam, is understood to have changed his name from Brian Young and married a Muslim woman who is the mother of his child.

Neighbour Parkhash Dhanjal said the Youngs were a West Indian family. She added: "In my heart I don't think this boy is bad. He is a nice boy."

Others arrested include Waseem Kayani, 29. Neighbour Brian Ashby said the Kayani family, who have a number of daughters, were "one of the quietest" in the neighbourhood.

Shazad Khuram Ali, 27, was arrested after officers stormed his Victorian semidetached house. Neighbours said he did not have much to do with fellow residents.

The 'ordinary boys'

One is described by friends as a "superman", another "chased girls", a third is just "decent". And, agreed many, all 15 suspects arrested in east London are "good British boys".

The 15 - aged 17 to 35 - come from respected and stable families, and most have good jobs: a book-keeper, a music company secretary, a security guard at Heathrow Airport. Most are practising Muslims.

There are two sets of brothers: Umair, 28, and Nabeel Hussain, 22, second-hand car dealers, and their brother Tanvir, 25. Umair has just launched a music business.

Others arrested included Waheed Arafat Khan, 25, and his brother Assan Abdullah, 22, Muhammed Usman Saddique, 24, or "Uzi", and his friend Waheed Zaman, 22, a biomedical student and Ibrahim - formerly Oliver - Savant, 25, a book-keeper and recent convert.

The Birmingham brothers

The alleged mastermind was named by Pakistani authorities as Rashid Rauf, 25.

He lived with his parents in Birmingham until 2002 then left the country after his uncle Mohammed Saeed was killed in the city.

His 22-year-old brother Tayib, arrested last week in Birmingham, is among the 23 people in custody.

Tayib Rauf's great-uncle, Qazi Amir Kulzum, described them as "a very honest, religious family". He said Tayib was disabled, having lost his hearing in one ear because of a childhood sickness. "He is very, very polite, the kindest person you could hope to meet. He helps his father delivering cakes and confectionery."

- INDEPENDENT