Over 1,000 arrested in Britain since 9/11

London's Metropolitan Police, which leads anti-terrorism operations across the country, said 1,047 people had been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 between September 2001 and June 30 this year.

Of these, 174 people have been charged with non-terrorism offences, 69 have been detained under the country's immigration laws and 158 charged with offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

About 60 people are currently awaiting trial on terrorism-related offences.

The figures do not take into account arrests made since July 1, including those of 24 people in pre-dawn raids Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up US-bound aircraft.

The 24 -- the majority of them reportedly Britons of Pakistani origin -- were detained on suspicion of the "commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000".

Britain's Muslims population feel they have been unfairly targeted by the legislation, with the finger of suspicion being pointed at their community, particularly after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

The Metropolitan Police has been strongly criticised recently for its use of the legislation, in particular following the high-profile June 2 raid on a suspected chemical bomb factory in east London that yielded nothing.