Asians 'to bear brunt of anti-terror campaigns'

Londoners "of Asian appearance" will inevitably bear the brunt of anti-terrorist campaigns, the capital's police chief warns today.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair was defending the force against complaints that ethnic minorities are targeted unfairly.

He said: "If you are looking for co- conspirators of al Qaeda, the chances are you are looking for someone of Asian appearance."

Earlier this month Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said some counter-terrorism powers would be " disproportionately experienced by the Muslim community".

In fact, many high-profile terrorist suspects in Britain are not of Asian origin. Convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid was born in Bromley to a white mother and Jamaican father and most of the 14 suspects who were detained at Belmarsh Prison under emergency anti-terror laws are north African.

Speaking to Whitehall and Westminster World magazine, published today, Sir Ian also says that al Qaeda poses a more serious threat to London than the IRA ever did.