Three men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences have been linked to an investigation into threats to kill Gordon Brown,The suspects were detained on August 14 in a joint operation between Lancashire Police and the Greater Manchester police counter-terrorism unit.
Police confirmed that the arrests are linked to a posting on the al-Ekhlaas website in January calling for the deaths of Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair.
The group making the threats called itself "al-Qaeda in Britain" and demanded the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. It also demanded the release of Muslim inmates from the high-security Belmarsh prison.
Two of the suspects were arrested at Manchester airport as they were about to board a flight to Finland. The third was arrested in Accrington, Lancashire.
Counter-terrorist officers are in Scandinavia continuing their investigations amid fears that British groups are establishing terror links in Denmark.
Police have until Thursday to charge the men - aged 21, 22 and 23, and from Blackburn - release them, or seek an extension to their custody.
The internet statement was posted in Arabic and has since been translated.
It warns that if the group's demands are not met "then the Martyrdom seekers of the organisation of al-Qaeda in Britain will target all the political leaders especially Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and we will also target all Embassies, Crusaders Centers and their Interests through out the country, with the help of Allah."
Terror police arrest in Blackburn
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Blackburn under the Terrorism Act, Lancashire Police said.
He was arrested at 0640 BST and an address in Whalley Range is being searched by specialist officers.
The arrest was part of an investigation by Lancashire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Counter Terrorism Unit.
BBC News has been told the arrest is part of an ongoing inquiry into threats made against Gordon Brown and Tony Blair at the beginning of this year.
Ch Supt Andy Rhodes said police would "endeavour to carry out any searches as quickly as possible", but inquiries can be "complex and may take time".
"This is a very sensitive time for all our communities and we are working hard to ensure everyone is kept up to date with as much information as we can give," he said.
He thanked locals for their co-operation and said he would "ensure people are kept updated in relation to the investigation".
Police Community Support Officers have been distributing leaflets explaining the anti-terror operation to locals.
Threats against the prime minister and his predecessor were made in January on a recognised jihadi website, by a group calling itself "al-Qaeda in Britain".
They also demanded the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the release of Muslim prisoners from Belmarsh prison.
Police said three men arrested on 14 August as part of the same inquiry remained in custody.
The men are aged 21, 22 and 23, are being questioned after two were arrested at Manchester Airport and one in Accrington.
Fifth arrest over 'PM death plot'
Detectives investigating a suspected plot to kill Prime Minister Gordon Brown have arrested a 29-year-old man in Derby under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The latest arrest follows that of a white Muslim convert, named locally as Mohammed Ali, who was seized in a dawn raid at his flat above a butcher's shop in Blackburn on Tuesday.
His arrest came ten days after three other men were held by anti-terror police over threats to assassinate Gordon Brown and his predecessor, Tony Blair.
They include two brothers arrested as they were about to board a flight to Finland at Manchester Airport.
A third was taken into custody shortly afterwards at a warehouse in Accrington.
Before his arrest Ali, 24, who is thought to have converted to Islam about four years ago, had told how he fell out with the two brothers because their views were 'too extreme'.
Anti-terror teams have spent months investigating the warnings on a recognised jihadi website in January by a group calling itself 'Al Qaeda in Britain'.
The statement also demanded the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and the release of Muslim prisoners from Belmarsh high-security prison in London.
Postings to the site and others like it are regularly monitored by the security services over fears that they are used to radicalise and recruit young British Muslims.
However, police sources have stressed that there is no evidence that there was any active plot.
Anti-terrorist officers are still holding the four other suspects and have travelled to Scandinavia as part of their investigations.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who is the local MP, is being kept informed about the investigation.
For a far more extensive representation of muslim violence worldwide go to the Religion of Peace website
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