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Calm urged after terror arrests Calm urged after terror arrests
(about 2 hours later)
Muslims in Birmingham will be urged to keep calm by community leaders, two days after nine men were arrested over an alleged kidnapping plot. Religious leaders are to call for calm among Birmingham's Muslim communities as police continue their investigation into an alleged kidnapping plot.
Police are continuing to question the nine, who are suspected of planning to kidnap and murder a UK Muslim soldier. Detectives have been granted more time to question nine men arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of planning to kidnap and murder a UK Muslim soldier.
Clerics at Birmingham's central mosque will ask Muslims to maintain their poise and dignity, amid fears many are sceptical of police intelligence. Some Muslims are sceptical of police intelligence and clerics at the Central Mosque will ask them not to panic.
The West Midlands force has handed out leaflets to try to reassure Muslims. Some 4,000 worshippers are expected to attend Friday prayers at the mosque.
Some 5,000 leaflets outlined that the arrests targeted criminals - not a particular faith or community. Dr Mohammed Naseem, the mosque's chairman, said: "Anger is a weakness that we are commanded to control, that's the Koran.
Map: Birmingham arrestsMap: Birmingham arrests
They included details on what to do if anyone comes under attack as a consequence of the raids and were translated from English into Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu. "We must always stick to the best of behaviour - it's not the time to panic or get angry."
Cabinet informed He said some in the community resented the way the raids were carried out and opposed laws allowing terror suspects to be held for up to 28 days without charge.
The men were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Wednesday over what security sources say was a plan to film an execution-style murder of a British soldier and post it on the web. "This unfortunate country is moving towards a police state - the laws being passed are wrong and against the traditions of the country," he added.
People are annoyed with the way it all happened - they don't understand why police would need to do it that way Sonia Deol, BBC Asian Network class="" href="/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6320129.stm">Radio listeners speak out 'Be patient'
The arrests - orchestrated by police and the security service MI5 - followed many months of activity. In the meantime, the West Midlands force has been trying to reassure Muslims that the arrests were targeted at criminals - not a particular faith or community.
On Thursday police were given a seven-day extension to the initial 48-hour period allowed under anti-terror laws. Some 5,000 leaflets translated from English into Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu have been handed out explaining the operation and appealing for patience.
They can hold terrorism suspects for a maximum of 28 days without charge. The nine men were arrested under the Terrorism Act over what security sources say was a plan to film an execution-style murder of a British soldier and post it on the web.
Forensic teams have been combing 12 premises across Birmingham, and police said earlier that the investigation was likely to continue for "days, if not weeks". Police swooped on homes and commercial premises in Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston in a series of early morning raids, arresting eight men.
Rumours denied Less than 12 hours later they arrested a ninth on a motorway in the Birmingham area.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said the Ministry of Defence was worried such alleged plots could hinder efforts to recruit more Muslims. Since then, forensic teams have been combing all 12 addresses, as police question the men in an investigation they say could take "days, if not weeks".
There are currently about 300 Muslims in the armed forces - out of a total of 100,000 personnel. On Thursday, a district judge granted police a seven-day extension to continue interviewing the suspects.
Zeeshan Hashmi - whose brother L/Cpl Jabron Hashmi became the first British Muslim soldier to be killed in Afghanistan last July - said rumours he was the target of the alleged plot were untrue. Under new terror laws, police can apply in court for a series of extensions up to 28 days.
Sources 'confident'
Shortly after 0400 GMT on Wednesday, officers swooped on 12 addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas and made eight arrests.
Among the properties raided were two houses and a general food store in Alum Rock and the Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill.
Police later arrested a ninth person on a motorway in the Birmingham area.
Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said kidnappings in the UK would be "much nearer a form of psychological warfare that we've seen obviously elsewhere".
Many local people said they had been shocked by Wednesday's arrests and the scale of the operation.
BBC correspondent Gordon Corera said security sources and police were confident about the intelligence that led to Wednesday's raids.
Police have set up an information line on 0121 626 6663.
BIRMINGHAM ARRESTS 1. Two properties raided in Jackson Road, Alum Rock 2. House raided in nearby Foxton Road3. End of terrace house searched in Poplar Road, Sparkhill4. Bookshop raided in Stratford Road Further raids at Ward End Park Road (5) and Asquith Road (6)Police also searched properties on Showell Green Lane (7) and Golden Hillock Road (8) near SparkhillPolice are reported to have also raided properties in the Edgbaston (9) and Kingstanding (10) areas of the cityBIRMINGHAM ARRESTS 1. Two properties raided in Jackson Road, Alum Rock 2. House raided in nearby Foxton Road3. End of terrace house searched in Poplar Road, Sparkhill4. Bookshop raided in Stratford Road Further raids at Ward End Park Road (5) and Asquith Road (6)Police also searched properties on Showell Green Lane (7) and Golden Hillock Road (8) near SparkhillPolice are reported to have also raided properties in the Edgbaston (9) and Kingstanding (10) areas of the city
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