POLICE were yesterday given more time to continue questioning nine suspects over an alleged terror plot to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier.

A judge at Coventry Magistrates' Court granted police a further seven days to interview the men about an alleged Iraqi-style abduction conspiracy.

Three who chose to attend a hearing at Coventry Magistrates' Court were transferred under a heavily armoured police convoy from a high-security police station in the city. The others were represented by lawyers.

Television pictures showed the convoy arriving at the court. Several armed officers then fanned out as a police van reversed into the complex.

City of Westminster District Judge Nicholas Evans, who has dealt with many alleged terrorism cases in London, was brought in specially to deal with the case.

Under new anti-terror laws, police can detain the suspects for a maximum of 28 days without charge. However, during that time they have to apply for a series of extensions - each time appearing before a judge to outline the evidence and questions they want to put to the men.

They were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Wednesday. Eight were held in dawn raids at homes and businesses across Birmingham with the ninth arrested on a motorway in the city several hours later. Security sources said the alleged plot involved abducting a serving Muslim soldier, who would have been filmed, possibly tortured, and ultimately executed. It could have mirrored the kidnappings of the British hostages Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan by Iraqi insurgents.

However, British Muslim soldiers and their families are likely to be issued with new security guidance in the wake of the operation to smash the alleged plot.

It follows reports that up to 25 Muslim soldiers could have been potential targets.

Defence sources said protection for all military personnel is kept under constant review and adjusted accordingly. There are currently around 330 Muslims in the British Armed Forces - 250 of those in the Army.

According to Whitehall sources, the security services became concerned about the alleged plot three or four weeks ago and narrowed down the list of potential targets to about 10.

They were then faced with a dilemma about when to intervene. The alleged plot was "close" to fruition before yesterday's raids, sources said.

Unconfirmed reports claim at least one Muslim soldier has been placed in protective custody. The alleged plot involved a soldier being taken from the Birmingham area to a secure location, filmed and then beheaded, with the footage released on the internet.

It was thwarted by the newly established Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary John Reid is to make a fresh attempt to extend the maximum period that terror suspects can be detained without charge beyond 28 days.

Mr Reid told ministers at yesterday morning's cabinet meeting he would attempt to find cross-party consensus on a longer detention period for questioning, said Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman.