Briton 'surfed bomb websites'

The Briton was arrested in Punta Gorda

A British man has been arrested in the US after police raided a library where he was allegedly using a public computer to look at bomb-making websites.

Police in Punta Gorda, Florida, claim the man gave a false name during questioning, but have said he is 45-year-old Nigel B Gates of west London.

He is being held in connection with alleged immigration violations at Charlotte County Jail, on the orders of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

It is claimed that Mr Gates was in the US on a visa which had expired 11 years ago.

'Freedom'

Punta Gorda police spokesman Lieutenant Jason Ciaschini said detectives had seized the hard drive of the computer Mr Gates was using, as evidence.

But he added that it was not a crime to look at bomb-making websites and it is unlikely Gates would face any other charges.

Lieutenant Ciaschini said: "Looking up stuff on the internet - everybody has freedom to do that."

Florida officials said they were also concerned about liquids found in Mr Gates's rucksack.

Lieutenant Ciaschini said the chemicals did not appear to be hazardous, but they are still being identified.

Mr Gates told police the liquids were paint thinner and jewellery cleaner, which he used to clean cars.