Wednesday, January 18 2006 10:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: British police have foiled a plot to abduct Prime Minister Tony Blair's five-year-old son Leo, security sources said here today (Jan 18,2006).

Extremists from a splinter group linked to the Fathers 4 Justice pressure group planned to abduct the child as a publicity stunt to highlight its cause. However, the plot was intercepted before Christmas, the sources were quoted as saying in British newspapers here.

No details were given of the plot. But it is understood the men only wanted to hold Leo for a short period of time and were not intending to harm him.

"Fortunately we think we have nipped this in the bud at an early stage. There have been no arrests although inquiries are continuing. It was good intelligence work," the sources said.

Tony Blair and his wife Cherie were told about the threat to Leo, the youngest of their four children.

"They were naturally very concerned, as any parent would be. But they have been assured the police are on top of the situation," a security source told The Sun.

A security assessment of the Prime Minister's family was carried out by Special Branch after the plot was uncovered. It included analysis of the protection given to the Blairs' other three children Euan, 22, Nicholas, 20, and 17-year-old Kathryn.

Fathers 4 Justice was set up by Matt O'Connor after he found it difficult to see his two sons after a bitter divorce. The group claims that family courts favours mothers in custody cases, leaving fathers with limited or no contact at all. The groups say its aim is to reunite children with their fathers.