THE Government last night said it wanted to deport nine men arrested after an anti-terror investigation into a suspected bomb plot.

The men have not been charged with any offences nearly two weeks after being arrested in raids across Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire.

The operation on April 8 was brought forward after an embarrassing security breach by a senior officer. Then Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was photographed carrying documents clearly marked “secret” with details of an ongoing police investigation into Downing Street.

His gaffe meant the raids were staged earlier than planned, and he resigned the next day.

The nine men, aged between 22 and 38, were released last night by Greater Manchester Police into the custody of the UK Borders Agency (UKBA).

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government’s highest priority is to protect public safety.”

Counter terrorist teams arrested 12 men in the apparently rushed raids, including 11 Pakistani nationals and one Briton. Ten of the suspects held student visas.

Two of the men remain in custody while the twelfth man, aged 18, had already been handed to the UKBA on April 11.