'My children could never think of anything evil'

But today, faced with the terrible possibility that her elder son may be involved in an international terror plot, and with younger son Sabeel also being interrogated for his involvement in the plot, she crumbled.

"What have I done to face such a torrid time in my life? Do I worry about my son being linked in the terror attack or do I worry about him battling for life in hospital?"

Khafeel is currently battling for his life in an English hospital with 90 per cent burn injuries.

She told rediff.com that she prayed and hoped that the two men under the spotlight for their suspected role in international terrorism were not her children and it was a case of mistaken identity. "But after seeing what is appearing on television, it looks like my child," she said, breaking down.

"I want to forget this as though it was a nightmare and I pray to the almighty that this torture ends soon and my children come out clean," she said.

Questioned about what the police asked her, she said her lawyer had advised her not to speak on the subject.

Sources, however, disclosed that the police had questioned her about the telephone calls made to her son and also about his whereabouts and activities prior to the incidents in England.

There was a clear difference in the manner in which Dr Zakia Ahmed spoke yesterday, when news that her son Sabeel was being questioned, and today. On Thursday she seemed confident and said with absolute conviction that her son was clean.

However, after news of her other son, Khafeel, broke out on Friday, there was a complete change in her attitude. Mentally she seemed drained and her entire tone had changed.

"I do not know who is responsible for this," she said. "My children could never think of anything evil."