US Airport Holds Minister after Terrorism Talks

October 30, 2007

Author: Natalie Paris

Source: The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/29/nmalik128.xml

Britain's first Muslim minister was detained at a US airport for almost an hour on his way back from attending talks on tackling terrorism.

Shahid Malik, the International Development Minister and MP for Dewsbur, was "deeply disappointed" to be taken aside at Dulles Airport in Washington DC yesterday morning.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the same department whose representatives Mr Malik had been meeting, analysed his luggage for traces of explosive materials.

"After a few minutes a couple of other people were also taken to one side," Mr Malik said. "We were all Muslims - the other two were black Muslims, both with Muslim names."