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Pope visit: Five men held over papal terror alert Pope visit: Five men held over papal terror alert
(40 minutes later)
Five men have been arrested in London by the Metropolitan Police in relation to a potential threat to Pope Benedict XVI's visit.Five men have been arrested in London by the Metropolitan Police in relation to a potential threat to Pope Benedict XVI's visit.
The arrests were made at 0545 BST at addresses in London after counter-terrorism officers received intelligence of a potential threat. The arrests were made at 0545 BST in London after counter-terrorism officers received intelligence of a potential threat.
The five men have been taken to a central London police station. The five men, all street cleaners in Westminster, were taken to a central London police station.
Officers are continuing searches at premises connected to the raids. The men are not British nationals. Officers are searching a number of premises. None of the men are British.
Earlier, the Pope attended an assembly of children at a Catholic college in west London. The men all worked for Veolia Environment Services, a major contract cleaning company that does work for Westminster Council.
In a statement from Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police said that the five men had been arrested in an operation launched by officers from the force's Counter-Terrorism Command. Armed officers arrested the men at the company's Chiltern Street depot, Paddington, as they were preparing to go on shift.
The five were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000. In a statement from Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police said that the five men had been arrested in a Terrorism Act 2000 operation, launched by officers from the force's Counter-Terrorism Command.
Ongoing search The five were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
They are 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50 years old. They were arrested in an armed operation at business premises where searches are continuing. They are 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50 years old. Residential premises in north and east London are also being searched. Officers have not found any hazardous items.
Residential premises in north and east London are also being searched. Officers have not found any hazardous items. It is not clear whether the investigations relate to a plot against the Pope himself, an element of the visit or events or other matters that may be connected to the visit. Most of the men are understood to be Algerian.
It is not clear whether the investigations relate to a plot against the Pope himself, an element of the visit or events or other matters that may be connected to the visit.
In the statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Today's arrests were made after police received information following initial inquiries by detectives. A decision was made to arrest the five men.In the statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Today's arrests were made after police received information following initial inquiries by detectives. A decision was made to arrest the five men.
"Following today's arrests policing arrangements for the papal visit were reviewed and we are satisfied our current policing plan remains appropriate. The itinerary has not changed. There is no change to the UK threat level.""Following today's arrests policing arrangements for the papal visit were reviewed and we are satisfied our current policing plan remains appropriate. The itinerary has not changed. There is no change to the UK threat level."
The current official threat level in the UK is "severe", which means that security chiefs believe a terror attack is "highly likely".The current official threat level in the UK is "severe", which means that security chiefs believe a terror attack is "highly likely".
The BBC understands that the information acted on by the police was received by Scotland Yard and the investigation has so far not involved MI5, the domestic security service. The BBC understands that the information acted on by the police was received by Scotland Yard and did not involve intelligence gathered by MI5, the domestic security service.
Policing billPolicing bill
The UK's top police officers from England and Scotland spent months planning the security arrangements for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the UK.The UK's top police officers from England and Scotland spent months planning the security arrangements for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the UK.
Those plans included threat assessments, standard arrangements covering the safe transport of significant public figures and the potential need to control crowds during the visit's major events.Those plans included threat assessments, standard arrangements covering the safe transport of significant public figures and the potential need to control crowds during the visit's major events.
In all, the policing bill for the visit is expected to top £1m.In all, the policing bill for the visit is expected to top £1m.
Reacting to the development, Father Frederico Lombardi, the Pope's press spokesman, said the Vatican was "totally confident" in Scotland Yard and the ability of its officers.Reacting to the development, Father Frederico Lombardi, the Pope's press spokesman, said the Vatican was "totally confident" in Scotland Yard and the ability of its officers.
The papal team had no direct information about the police operation. The Pope remained calm and had been welcomed warmly everywhere he had gone, he said. The papal team had no direct information about the police operation, he said, adding that the Pope remained calm and had been welcomed warmly everywhere he had gone.
"The police have already said that the information demonstrated that there is no need to change the programme," he said."The police have already said that the information demonstrated that there is no need to change the programme," he said.
The BBC's Emily Buchanan, who was with the Pope at his visit to an assembly of children at a Catholic college in west London, described the security around the Pope as "extremely high... with no lapses".The BBC's Emily Buchanan, who was with the Pope at his visit to an assembly of children at a Catholic college in west London, described the security around the Pope as "extremely high... with no lapses".
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