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| Kidnapping plot search continues | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Forensic officers have spent the night searching 12 Birmingham properties in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap and kill a Muslim serviceman. | |
| Police are continuing to question nine men arrested over what security sources say was a plan to film the soldier being executed and post it on the web. | |
| A Muslim serviceman who had served in Afghanistan and was on home leave was thought to be the target of the plot. | A Muslim serviceman who had served in Afghanistan and was on home leave was thought to be the target of the plot. |
| Police said the investigation was likely to take "days, if not weeks". | Police said the investigation was likely to take "days, if not weeks". |
| Officers sealed off roads across the city and are continuing to search homes and commercial premises. | Officers sealed off roads across the city and are continuing to search homes and commercial premises. |
| All nine were arrested under the Terrorism Act - meaning police have a maximum of 28 days to hold them. They are being held at police stations in the West Midlands. | All nine were arrested under the Terrorism Act - meaning police have a maximum of 28 days to hold them. They are being held at police stations in the West Midlands. |
| BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood says the Ministry of Defence is worried such alleged plots could hinder efforts to recruit more Muslims. | BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood says the Ministry of Defence is worried such alleged plots could hinder efforts to recruit more Muslims. |
| There are currently 248 Muslims in the armed forces - out of a total of 100,000 personnel. | There are currently 248 Muslims in the armed forces - out of a total of 100,000 personnel. |
| Wednesday's arrests - orchestrated by police and the security service, MI5 - followed many months of activity. | Wednesday's arrests - orchestrated by police and the security service, MI5 - followed many months of activity. |
| Shortly after 0400 GMT, officers swooped on 12 addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas and made eight arrests. | Shortly after 0400 GMT, officers swooped on 12 addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas and made eight arrests. |
| Among them were two houses and a general food store in Alum Rock and the Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill. | Among them were two houses and a general food store in Alum Rock and the Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill. |
| Less than 12 hours later, police announced in a press conference they had arrested a ninth person in the Birmingham area. | Less than 12 hours later, police announced in a press conference they had arrested a ninth person in the Birmingham area. |
| Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw, of West Midlands Police, told reporters: "That illustrates to you that this remains a dynamic, fluid operation and this is by no means finished." | Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw, of West Midlands Police, told reporters: "That illustrates to you that this remains a dynamic, fluid operation and this is by no means finished." |
| He described being at "the foothills" of "a very, very major investigation". | He described being at "the foothills" of "a very, very major investigation". |
| Relative's plea | Relative's plea |
| Security sources said a terror plot which was not aimed at mass casualties, would mark "a different approach" to UK terrorism. | Security sources said a terror plot which was not aimed at mass casualties, would mark "a different approach" to UK terrorism. |
| Many local people said they had been shocked by the arrests and the scale of the operation. | Many local people said they had been shocked by the arrests and the scale of the operation. |
| The community is under stress Shabir Hussain | The community is under stress Shabir Hussain |
| Mohamed Barber said his cousin was one of the men arrested in Alum Rock. | Mohamed Barber said his cousin was one of the men arrested in Alum Rock. |
| "We can vouch for him he is innocent. He doesn't even have time to go to Friday prayers - that's how busy he is," he added. | "We can vouch for him he is innocent. He doesn't even have time to go to Friday prayers - that's how busy he is," he added. |
| It has also stirred some resentment among people who have seen their community targeted before - but without any charges being made. | It has also stirred some resentment among people who have seen their community targeted before - but without any charges being made. |
| However, Shabir Hussain, vice-president of the Alum Rock Islamic Centre, said people should co-operate with the police and remain vigilant of unusual activity in their homes. | However, Shabir Hussain, vice-president of the Alum Rock Islamic Centre, said people should co-operate with the police and remain vigilant of unusual activity in their homes. |
| "The community is under stress," he said. | "The community is under stress," he said. |
| "They do not know where their children are, they do not know what they do. At the mosque we are saying 'open your eyes, look underneath your feet'." | "They do not know where their children are, they do not know what they do. At the mosque we are saying 'open your eyes, look underneath your feet'." |
| Police have set up an information line on 0121 626 6663, and are distributing thousands of leaflets to offer reassurance to local people. | Police have set up an information line on 0121 626 6663, and are distributing thousands of leaflets to offer reassurance to local people. |