London: British anti-terrorist police have arrested six people, including three women, in connection with a suicide bomb attack in Israel believed to have been carried out by two Britons, including one of Pakistani origin.

The three men and three women are being held and questioned at high-security Paddington Green police station in Central London on suspicion of helping to plan terrorist attacks.

The arrests follow claims by Israeli police that the bomb attack in a Tel Aviv cafe, which killed three people, was carried out by two Britons - Asif Muhammad Hanif, 21, and Omar Khan Sharif, 27.

While Hanif died in the explosion, Sharif, the Pakistani-origin man who failed to detonate his explosives, is being hunted by Israeli police. There has been speculation that Sharif is either in a safe house or has entered Palestinian territory.

British police arrested a man in London in the early hours of May 3 after nabbing five people overnight in the East Midlands.

British forensic scientists were searching their homes and examining computer and phone records. Security sources said the investigation is highly sensitive and "extremely important".

The British investigation involves MI5, MI6, Scotland Yard's anti-terrorism branch, local police forces and international agencies.

Chancellor Gordon Brown on May 2 ordered the freezing of all UK accounts owned by Sharif and Hanif, from Hounslow in West London.

PTI