A MAN who was falsely named in the national press as a suspect in an alleged terrorist plot has claimed damages for the blunder.

Amjad Sarwa took legal action against a string of papers after articles suggested he had been arrested in connection with the alleged "liquid bomb" plot to blow up transatlantic flights.

The man, who lives with his wife and children in High Wycombe, Bucks, suffered distress and embarrassment because of the allegations, his solicitor, Adam Tudor, claimed.

The lawyer told Mr Justice Eady at London's High Court that the statements made in the press in August were "wholly untrue".

He claimed that the publication of the articles caused his client to fear for his own and his family's safety at a sensitive time in Muslim relations.

The newspapers in question have since acknowledged that Mr Sarward had never been arrested or held on suspicion of any terror plot.

The publishers of The Guardian and The Observer, the News of the World, The Daily Mirror, The Mail, The Mail on Sunday, The Evening Standard and The Independent, all published apologies when it came to light that their reports were inaccurate.

They have agreed to pay Mr Sarwar substantial damages - the amount of which has not been disclosed - as well as footing his legal costs.

The newspapers' solicitor, Leah Alpren, apologised in court for the distress and embarrassment caused by the publications.

Mr Sarwa is the second person to receive compensation in relation to false claims surrounding the suspected bomb plot which caused chaos at Heathrow this summer.

Koser Zaman, 24, took legal action after her photo accompanied various newspaper articles and news bulletins about the arrest of terror suspects.