WESTERN intelligence agencies are examining more than 40 British companies suspected of being used to launder cash for Osama Bin Laden to finance his terror campaign.

Allegations that Britain is central to the Al-Qaeda terror group's financial empire were being scrutinised as the American Senate was shown a document last week claiming that leading corporations in the Middle East and a member of Bin Laden's family may have helped to manage funds. A chart listed more than 100 suspected Al-Qaeda connections in more than 20 countries.

Further details of the British charities and firms with possible links to Bin Laden emerged in an intelligence report commissioned by the French government. It names 44 British organisations which may be linked to Bin Laden.

Guillaume Dasquier, editor of the Intelligence Newsletter which obtained the report, said it had been commissioned by the French government and prepared with the French and American secret services.

In Washington, Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate's permanent investigations subcommittee, said last week that Bin Laden is suspected of using Sudan's Al-Shamal Islamic bank to shield his financial activities. The bank has correspondent accounts with leading western banks, including three in London, and it is believed that Bin Laden may have used these to transfer funds anonymously.

Al-Shamal was allegedly founded with a £30m cash injection by Bin Laden and its shareholders include senior Saudi businessmen. It was claimed in an American trial this year that it was used to transfer Al-Qaeda funds. Al-Shamal last week denied that Bin Laden was a backer.

The British Arab Commercial Bank (BACB), Banque Française de l'Orient and the American Express Bank in London all had accounts linked to the bank. "We closed the account last Monday," said a spokesman for the American Express Bank. The French bank said it was checking for links to Bin Laden. BACB was unavailable for comment.

Among the London-based organisations with suspected links to Bin Laden are Azzam Publications, an internet and publishing firm, the Islamic Media Observation Centre, run by Yasser al-Sirri, and the Al-Muhajiroun group, which recruits fighters.

The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), also named, is a leading Saudi organisation with a British registration in Oxford.

According to intelligence reports, IIRO's branch in the Philippines was misused by Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, the brother-in-law of Bin Laden, to help terrorists.

The most controversial allegations are that Bin Laden may have received finance from members of his own family. They have strongly denied funding it but the FBI is investigating.

The Senate document claimed that some of Bin Laden's dealings with the family business have been managed by his brother Yeslam, who categorically denies this and has condemned the American attacks. He says he has been cleared in the past of wrongdoing by Swiss investigators.

• Investigators examining allegations of insider dealing by terrorists ahead of the attacks on America are focusing on a single bet placed on Chicago's options exchange. Despite showing a $2.6m (£1.76m) profit on an investment of $180,000 (£122,200), nobody has yet claimed the cash.

• The money trail

• American Express Bank London branch listed as 'correspondent bank' with the Al Shamal Bank in Sudan where Osama Bin Laden kept funds

• Banque Francaise de l'Orient Also had a correspondent branch in London with the Al Shamal Bank

• British Arab Commercial Bank Listed as a correspondent bank in London

• Barclays Bin Laden's organisation Al-Qaeda had funds in a Notting Hill branch

• Islamic Media Observation Centre Muslim rights group in west London linked to Bin Laden

• Azzam Publications London website subscribed to by Said Bahaji, suspected 'logistics officer' of US attacks

• Advice and Reformation Committee A front for Al-Qaeda in London

• International Islamic Relief Organisation Charity linked to Bin Laden that had a Barclays account in Oxford