David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, confirmed yesterday that tough legislation, which could breach human rights laws, would be brought before MPs soon. Britain, he said, must throw down the gauntlet to terrorists as never before. 

The proposed legislation is thought to include increased powers of arrest for the police to interrogate suspects and moves to abolish some rights of judicial appeal for immigrants turned back at airports.

Police may be allowed to arrest people suspected of having knowledge about terrorism, simply to interrogate them. Legislation to allow transcripts of telephone conversations bugged by MI5 to be used as evidence in court is also reported to be under consideration.

Mr Blunkett confirmed that identity cards were being considered “very seriously indeed”. Asked whether they would be voluntary or compulsory, he said: “I think a voluntary card in the present circumstances would not be a great deal of help.”

Speaking on the BBC’s On the Record programme, Mr Blunkett said that at least three anti-terror Bills would introduce a range of new police powers, including the increased powers of arrest. Compulsory ID cards would use the latest technology, by scanning the iris of the eye or using thumb or finger-printing.

The move could involve a redrawing of the balance between human rights and anti-terror legislation, the Home Secretary said. “My instincts are to ensure that we take whatever action is necessary to prevent those engaged in terrorism abusing our democracy in order to destroy it. Yes, there will be a balance to be struck, there will be tensions between the European Convention on Human Rights and the necessary protection we seek.”

The Home Secretary warned Labour backbenchers worried about the possible violation of human rights that failure to act would allow terrorists to “make a monkey out of us”. However, he added: “This should not be seen . . . as some sort of police state. We don’t have a police state and never will.”

Tony Blair has been in touch with Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, and Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, to seek their support for the measures. Today he will call in members of three Commons select committees — defence, home, and foreign affairs — as well as the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, to brief MPs. He will also address representatives of Labour’s parliamentary committee.

The moves came as anti-terrorist detectives prepared to renew their questioning of an Algerian pilot who went to flying school in the United States over possible links to the World Trade Centre attack.

Lotfi Raissi, 27, was arrested on Friday with his 22-year-old French wife, Sonia, who works for Air France at Heathrow. A second man in his mid-40s was arrested in Birmingham and brought to high security cells at Paddington Green police station.

A district judge at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court agreed under legislation in the Terrorism Act 2000 to allow police to continue holding the three until Wednesday.

They were arrested after information from the FBI in New York alleging that the Raissis might have provided a safe haven for terrorists. The information was based on checks of mobile telephone calls made by the terrorists.

Mr Raissi is a student at the Four Force Aviation company in Poyle, Surrey, close to his home in Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire. Yesterday Frode Iversen, from the company, said he joined at the beginning of the year.

He said he understood that Mr Raissi had qualified as a commercial pilot in the US and was taking part in a £2,000 18-month course to qualify to fly aircraft in Europe. Mr Raissi worked from home by computer and did not attend the school often.

Yesterday Mr Raissi’s relatives said the police action was groundless. His elder brother Mohamed, 29, was also arrested in the raids and later released.