The Bradford leader of a mercy mission to deliver £1million in aid to Gaza has spoken of his shock after counter-terrorism police arrested three colleagues taking part in the national convoy.

The men, aged 26, 29 and 36, from Burnley, were involved in the UK-wide initiative organised by Viva Palestina.

They were among nine people initially arrested as they drove two vans on the M65 near Preston. Six men were later released without charge.

Speaking from Paris yesterday Arshad Ali (pictured above) Bradford’s Stop the War co-ordinator and member of Viva Palestina, said: “This is a terrible shock.” Mr Ali said: “We are doing charity work and every single person involved in this trip has put in their own expenses and weeks and weeks of fundraising.

We are travelling in convoy and then we hear some of our colleagues have been arrested.”

Police have been given until Thursday to question the three men, who were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2006.