London  - British police said Wednesday that 10 men had been arrested on suspicion of having links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network in a series of raids across the north-west of England, including the cities of Manchester and Liverpool.

The swoop was believed to have been brought forward due to a security blunder, after Britain's most senior counter-terrorism chief, Bob Quick, was filmed clutching highly sensitive documents as he arrived in Downing Street to brief the government.

Among a large bundle of papers under his arm was a white document clearly marked "secret" and carrying an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terrorism operation.

Few details were released but reports said those arrested included two students who were surrounded by armed police at John Moores University in Liverpool.

Quick, who is head of Scotland Yard's specialist operations wing, had apologized to his superior, Scotland Yard chief Paul Stephenson, for "leaving the document on show," the Press Association reported. (dpa)