British Muslims fear backlash over terror plot

There was no word about the religious or ethnic background of those arrested in a plot authorities said was aimed at causing casualties.

But three of the four suicide bombers who struck London8217;s transit system in July 2005 were Briton of Pakistani origin, and many Muslims feared their community would be held responsible this time.

Monirul Sardar, 33, said that after the transit bombings and the September 11, 2001, attacks on America, a neighbour had left duck droppings on his parked car. 8220;Tonight I8217;ve got to watch out,8221; he said.

Sardar, a Briton of Bangladeshi origin who runs an east London travel agency, said he8217;d noticed his beard drawing stares after every major terror attack in recent years.

8220;It8217;s started up again,8221; he said. 8220;People are afraid of me. 8230; If it8217;s an old man, a lady in a hijab head covering, they8217;ll pick on them.8221;

BETH GARDINER