FOUR North-East men arrested in the region's biggest anti-terrorist swoop have received out-of-court cash settlements, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Durham and Cleveland police forces, who led Operation Icebolt, have awarded the terror suspects pay-outs after they mounted legal action claiming wrongful arrest.

Six men were taken from their homes in County Durham and Cleveland in January last year and held under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The operation involved 150 officers and was co-ordinated with the help of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch.

Mousa Mohamad, Salah Famtazi and Ibrahim Rachid, all of Darlington, Walid Zamzam, of Seaton Carew, Majid Mousa, of Middlesbrough and Omar Mohammed of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, have strongly denied any involvement in terrorism.

It was confirmed last night that payments have been awarded to Salah Famtazi, Ibrahim Rachid, Walid Zamzam and Omar Mohammed.

Lawyer Gerard O'Shea, who is representing Darlington businessman Mousa Mohamad, said a settlement figure had yet to be agreed for his client. Majid Mousa has not mounted legal action.

Father-of-one Ibrahim Rachid, of Northgate, Darlington, said last night that his family were still deeply traumatised by the ordeal.

He revealed that his wife Zeinab, who was three months pregnant at the time of his arrest, has suffered a miscarriage because of the stress she had been put under.

He said:"It is all happened because of one person who made a phone call to the police and they arrested us without prior investigation."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Settlements have been reached with claimants in our force area."

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said the force's legal department had been involved in exchanges with lawyers acting for the three men arrested in Darlington. As a result of these negotiations, we can confirm offers of settlement have been made in respect of all three men."