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| UK terror arrests in probe 'linked to Europe attacks' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five people have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of an investigation launched after the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels, West Midlands Police say. | Five people have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of an investigation launched after the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels, West Midlands Police say. |
| Three men, aged 26, 40 and 59, and a 29-year-old woman, were arrested in Birmingham on Thursday night. | Three men, aged 26, 40 and 59, and a 29-year-old woman, were arrested in Birmingham on Thursday night. |
| A fourth man, 26, was arrested at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Friday. All five are from Birmingham. | A fourth man, 26, was arrested at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Friday. All five are from Birmingham. |
| Whitehall officials described the arrests as "significant". | Whitehall officials described the arrests as "significant". |
| Police say they worked with MI5 and Belgian and French authorities in an operation "to address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe". | Police say they worked with MI5 and Belgian and French authorities in an operation "to address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe". |
| They said there was no risk to the public at any time and they had no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being planned. | They said there was no risk to the public at any time and they had no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being planned. |
| It is understood that the 26-year-old man arrested at Gatwick Airport had just arrived on a flight into the UK. It is thought the flight originated from North Africa. | |
| 'Extensive investigation' | 'Extensive investigation' |
| Police said all those arrested are being held in the West Midlands on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. | Police said all those arrested are being held in the West Midlands on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. |
| Officers are also searching a number of properties in Birmingham. | Officers are also searching a number of properties in Birmingham. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who leads on counter-terrorism for the force, said the operation was part of an "extensive investigation", and the arrests were "pre-planned and intelligence-led". | Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who leads on counter-terrorism for the force, said the operation was part of an "extensive investigation", and the arrests were "pre-planned and intelligence-led". |
| The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said Whitehall officials described the operation as "significant". | The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said Whitehall officials described the operation as "significant". |
| These were the first arrests in the UK connected with the investigation into the attacks in Brussels in March and Paris last November, he said. | These were the first arrests in the UK connected with the investigation into the attacks in Brussels in March and Paris last November, he said. |
| The primary co-operation was between West Midlands Police and MI5, with input from the French and Belgian authorities, officials told our correspondent. | The primary co-operation was between West Midlands Police and MI5, with input from the French and Belgian authorities, officials told our correspondent. |
| Police say three of the suspects held were arrested under the Terrorism Act, which gives the police 48 hours before they must be charged or released, unless they apply to a magistrate for an extension. | |
| The other two suspects were arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which gives police 36 hours before they must be charged or released. |