Terror suspects probed over 
kidnapping of photographer

The man and woman, both 26, were held at 8.30pm on Tuesday after arriving in the UK on a flight from Egypt.

They were arrested on suspicion of travelling to Syria to support terrorist activities.

Scotland Yard confirmed that one line of inquiry was whether the pair were involved in the abduction in the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

Photographer John Cantlie, who had worked for the Sunday Times, and Dutchman Jeroen Oerlemans were both held captive for a week.

Mr Cantlie later said one of his captors had claimed to be an NHS doctor.

Searches were being carried out yesterday at two residential addresses in east London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Counter-terrorism officers arrested the pair on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and they remain in custody at a central London police station.

The arrests are part of an investigation into travel to Syria in support of alleged terrorist activity.

In recent months concerns have been raised that foreign nationals are travelling to Syria with the intention of supporting jihadist movements.

In August, Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said a number of people in his constituency were travelling to the war-torn Middle Eastern state, and that he expected this to increase.

Mr Cantlie told the Daily Mail that the “doctor” had a south London accent and used saline drips with NHS logos on them.

The extremist said he had taken a sabbatical from his job, and that treating badly injured fighters in Syria would be good training for when he returned to the UK because he wanted to specialise in trauma.

Mr Cantlie said: “I asked for his help as we were both from London but he refused to even send a text to my girlfriend to say we were alive. He said he would be beheaded if he did.

“It wasn’t much fun expecting to end up on an execution video at the hands of extremists – one of whom was treating Londoners like me a few months ago.”

Both he and Mr Oerlemans were shot during an unsuccessful escape attempt, and eventually managed to run away with the help of rebel fighters.