London ? Two suspected terrorists who were being detained under strict conditions resembling house arrest have escaped and are now on the run, officials said Monday.

An unidentified British man accused of trying to travel to Iraq to fight alongside insurgents is thought to have fled through a window of London mental health unit two weeks ago.

Officials said a second suspect – an Iraqi – also was on the run and that he had escaped several months ago.

Policing Minister Tony McNulty said the government had not publicly revealed details of the escapes – nor the fact that there had been any escapes – because anti-terrorism legislation prevents the suspects’ identities from being revealed.

McNulty rejected concerns that the two men posed a danger to the public, or could mount a terrorist attack against Britain. “People who needed to know, in the context or public safety, did know,” he said.