A SUSPECTED terrorist from Blackburn appeared in court amid high security - as a family whose home was raided as part of the investigation told of its continuing ordeal.

Junaid Feroze, 28, of Malham Gardens, Audley, was yesterday remanded in custody until August 25 on charges of conspiracy to murder and plotting to commit public nuisance by the use of radioactive materials, toxic gases, chemicals and/or explosive. As police hunted for evidence after arresting Feroze at gunpoint in Cherry Tree on August 3, they searched six properties connected to him in Blackburn.

Ayub Patel, 34, and his family were woken in the middle of the night and forced out of their home in Greenhead Avenue, Little Harwood - one of the properties searched. The house was apparently targeted because Mr Patel had been seen at Lower Audley Tyre Centre, in Bennington Street, which is owned by Feroze's brother.

Today Mr Patel's brother Soab told of his family's continuing ordeal. He said: "Ayub is going through what you could only call bouts of depression as he just can't understand why he was targeted.

"It's hard to get life back to normal for everyone but especially for him, as he is still worried he's lost his credibility and respect in the community and that his alleged association with terrorism has affected business. But the saddest thing has been the upset for the children and his wife, who he fears may be treated badly because his good name and character has now been slurred."

Peter B Turner, from Forbes Solicitors, has been instructed by the family to investigate why the police carried out the raid.

Feroze and seven other men were escorted yesterday from Paddington Green Police Station to Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, both London, in two vans flanked by police cars and a helicopter overhead.

There were up to 13 police officers in body armour in the court as the proceedings got under way. Feroze was brought into the dock with three other co-accused. Each was led in by two police officers and placed on wooden benches with 3ft gaps. Eight officers in body armour stood behind them and five more by the door of the dock. In a nine-minute hearing, few details of the case against them were given, except the outline of the conspiracy charges.

All the men were dark-skinned and bearded and were dressed identically in grey jogging trousers and white T-shirts or jumpers.

They spoke only to confirm name and date of birth. A few friends or relatives sat in the public gallery. The men were remanded in custody until an Old Bailey hearing.