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| Police arrest four over possible Islamist plot to attack UK | Police arrest four over possible Islamist plot to attack UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Counter-terrorism officials have launched an investigation into a possible Islamist plot to attack Britain after four men were arrested in the north of England. | Counter-terrorism officials have launched an investigation into a possible Islamist plot to attack Britain after four men were arrested in the north of England. |
| The army’s bomb disposal unit was called to a house in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, after a 31-year-old man was arrested there early on Tuesday, while residents were evacuated. The other men, aged 22, 36 and 41, were arrested in three separate properties in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. | The army’s bomb disposal unit was called to a house in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, after a 31-year-old man was arrested there early on Tuesday, while residents were evacuated. The other men, aged 22, 36 and 41, were arrested in three separate properties in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. |
| The arrests and activity in Yorkshire and Derbyshire followed a joint operation by police counter-terrorism officers and Britain’s domestic security service, MI5. | The arrests and activity in Yorkshire and Derbyshire followed a joint operation by police counter-terrorism officers and Britain’s domestic security service, MI5. |
| The MI5 director general, Andrew Parker, and police chiefs had warned earlier this month that the terrorist threat was at an unprecedented level, with 10 plots believed to have been disrupted since March, including the recent Downing Street one. | |
| The disrupted plots stand alongside the five attacks that escaped detection, leading to four atrocities in London and Manchester and an attack on a London train in which a bomb did not detonate properly. | The disrupted plots stand alongside the five attacks that escaped detection, leading to four atrocities in London and Manchester and an attack on a London train in which a bomb did not detonate properly. |
| Officers from the north-east counter-terrorism unit (Nectu) detained the men in the latest operation. They are being questioned at a police station in West Yorkshire and are suspected of having Islamist links. | Officers from the north-east counter-terrorism unit (Nectu) detained the men in the latest operation. They are being questioned at a police station in West Yorkshire and are suspected of having Islamist links. |
| All the men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The arrests were intelligence-led and planned as part of an ongoing investigation, police said. | All the men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The arrests were intelligence-led and planned as part of an ongoing investigation, police said. |
| Supt Una Jennings, of South Yorkshire police, said: “I understand our local communities will have concerns about this morning’s police activity but I want to offer my reassurance that we will continue to serve and protect the public of South Yorkshire. | Supt Una Jennings, of South Yorkshire police, said: “I understand our local communities will have concerns about this morning’s police activity but I want to offer my reassurance that we will continue to serve and protect the public of South Yorkshire. |
| “We work very closely with our colleagues at the north-east counter-terrorism unit and we will ensure we maintain these strong links in order to provide a high level of service and delivery to everyone in our community. Public safety is our utmost concern.” | “We work very closely with our colleagues at the north-east counter-terrorism unit and we will ensure we maintain these strong links in order to provide a high level of service and delivery to everyone in our community. Public safety is our utmost concern.” |
| Residents in Sheffield reported hearing loud bangs in the early hours, which a Nectu spokeswoman confirmed was counter-terrorism officers gaining access to the properties where arrests were made. | Residents in Sheffield reported hearing loud bangs in the early hours, which a Nectu spokeswoman confirmed was counter-terrorism officers gaining access to the properties where arrests were made. |
| The immediate area around the Chesterfield property attended by the army bomb squad was evacuated and cordoned off while a search was conducted. | The immediate area around the Chesterfield property attended by the army bomb squad was evacuated and cordoned off while a search was conducted. |
| One resident, Jake Fox, 24, said he was evacuated from his home on a street near the raided property. “The police told us to go to Chesterfield stadium,” he said. “They wouldn’t give us any information.” | One resident, Jake Fox, 24, said he was evacuated from his home on a street near the raided property. “The police told us to go to Chesterfield stadium,” he said. “They wouldn’t give us any information.” |
| His brother Simon, 22, said: “We have seen army, police from all over, we have seen a couple of packages being removed by the bomb disposal unit.” | His brother Simon, 22, said: “We have seen army, police from all over, we have seen a couple of packages being removed by the bomb disposal unit.” |
| Another address was being searched in Stocksbridge, Sheffield, in connection with the arrests, police said. | Another address was being searched in Stocksbridge, Sheffield, in connection with the arrests, police said. |
| The owner of Stocksbridge Gents Barbers confirmed his shop was raided as part of the counter-terrorism operation. Mohammed Ojaky, who opened the business in May, said he believed police may have targeted the wrong address. | The owner of Stocksbridge Gents Barbers confirmed his shop was raided as part of the counter-terrorism operation. Mohammed Ojaky, who opened the business in May, said he believed police may have targeted the wrong address. |
| “The person they were looking for may have worked at the shop before I took it over or was connected to a member of staff,” he said. “Police took a copy of the CCTV and a list of names of staff members.” | “The person they were looking for may have worked at the shop before I took it over or was connected to a member of staff,” he said. “Police took a copy of the CCTV and a list of names of staff members.” |
| The Fatima community centre in the Burngreave area of Sheffield was sealed off, with police vehicles parked outside and police tape across the entrance. | The Fatima community centre in the Burngreave area of Sheffield was sealed off, with police vehicles parked outside and police tape across the entrance. |
| The centre’s volunteer manager, Amar Ghaman, said there was nothing “strange going on here and nothing for the Muslim community to worry about”. | The centre’s volunteer manager, Amar Ghaman, said there was nothing “strange going on here and nothing for the Muslim community to worry about”. |
| Ghaman said two men had offered to rent a flat attached to the back of the building around three months ago. He said he did not know the men but their “papers were clean”. | Ghaman said two men had offered to rent a flat attached to the back of the building around three months ago. He said he did not know the men but their “papers were clean”. |
| “We and everyone at the centre condemn terrorism completely and we do not associate ourselves with that,” Ghaman added. | “We and everyone at the centre condemn terrorism completely and we do not associate ourselves with that,” Ghaman added. |
| The UK threat level for terrorism remains at severe, meaning an attack is deemed highly likely. | The UK threat level for terrorism remains at severe, meaning an attack is deemed highly likely. |