London man charged under British Terrorism Act

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police charged a chef with two counts of violating Britain's Terrorism Act Thursday, but authorities refused to say whether the matter was related to last month's terrorist attacks in the United States.

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Sulayman Balal Zainulabidin, 43, is scheduled to appear in court Friday, according to Scotland Yard. He was taken into custody Monday. Police would not say anything else about the case.

Another man arrested by British authorities is also scheduled to appear in court Friday.

Lotfi Raissi, 27, is wanted in Arizona on minor charges of making false statement on his Federal Aviation Administration application for a pilot's license.

More significantly, authorities believe Raissi, an Algerian pilot, instructed four pilots involved in the attacks in the United States.

His attorney said no formal extradition charges has been filed yet, and it was not clear what Friday's hearing would cover. His attorney has denied that Raissi was involved in the September 11 attacks.

Raissi took flight simulator training with suspected hijacker Hani Hassan Hanjour in Mesa, Arizona, as recently as June at Sawyer Aviation, according to an official at the flight school. British prosecutors said there is a video tape of Raissi and Hanjour -- who authorities say flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon -- flying to Phoenix.

Despite that connection, sources said Raissi is believed to be a mid-level player and by no means a mastermind of the terrorist plan.