'Ricin plotter' held in London

One of seven people arrested in a swoop on a London mosque is suspected by police of having financed an alleged poison plot uncovered two weeks ago, the Times newspaper said yesterday.

The suspect, an Algerian who entered Britain as an asylum seeker, was described by police as "a major player" linked to the discovery of the makeshift ricin laboratory in north London.

The paper said detectives believed the suspect recruited men from the Finsbury Park mosque, helping them with benefit claims.

He was also suspected of providing recruits with false identification papers and disposable cellphones.