The police today downplayed the security threat posed by a detained American terror suspect who was due to fight his deportation to the United States in court later in the day.

Police chief Norian Mai said security officials did not conduct a "serious investigation," after Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, 24, was taken into custody.

"He may be dangerous to the US government but it does not mean he automatically becomes dangerous to our country," Norian told reporters.

Bilal, a US citizen studying at the International Islamic University here, was named by the US authorities Friday as one of two wanted men after the arrest of four others in swoops on an alleged terrorist cell in Oregon and Michigan.

Norian said Bilal, whose lawyers say he will file for political asylum, is under police detention for a travel document offence.

"The US has revoked his passport. He is just like an illegal immigrant. He is being detained for purpose of deportation. It is not a detention for purpose to prosecute him. The situation is quite clear," he said.

Asked if playing down the threat posed by Bilal meant Malaysia was trying to protect him, he said: "We are not protecting him here. We want to deport him pending the outcome of the court decision."

Washington does not have an extradition treaty with Kuala Lumpur, but Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that as the United States had revoked Bilal's passport the American was considered an illegal immigrant and Malaysia was prepared to deport him.

Charges against Bilal and the others - all except one of them are US citizens - say that after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, they acquired firearms and took part in weapons training in preparation for joining Taliban and al-Qaeda troops battling US forces in Afghanistan. AFP