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UK arrests five men including four Iranians over suspected terrorist plot Eight men including seven Iranians arrested in two England terrorism operations
(about 2 hours later)
Arrests carried out in London, Swindon and Greater Manchester after discovery of alleged plot targeting ‘specific premises’ Yvette Cooper says raids, in London, Swindon and Manchester, carried out as part of response to ‘national security threats’
UK police have arrested five men, including four Iranian nationals, on suspicion of “terrorism offences”, police have said. Eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, have been arrested by police in two separate counter-terrorism operations across England.
The arrests were carried out in London, Swindon and the Greater Manchester area and were related to “a suspected plot to target a specific premises”, London’s Metropolitan police said in a statement. Five of the suspects were detained in raids on Saturday as part of an alleged plot to target “a specific premises,” the Metropolitan police said.
The men, aged between 29 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of “preparation of a terrorist act” and remain in custody, the police said. The force did not reveal the site but said it had been identified with the advice and support from counter-terror officers.
The nationality of one of the men was still being established, they said. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the arrests were sparked by “serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats”.
Counter-terrorism police had been in contact with the site allegedly targeted to make them aware and to provide relevant advice and support but it had not been identified for operational reasons, police said. Scotland Yard said the five men, including four Iranians, were being questioned under section 5 of the Terrorism Act on suspicion of planning an attack.
“This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated,” Cmdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, said. Three of those arrested were held in the Manchester area, with another arrested in west London and a fifth in Swindon.
Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
“The investigation is still in its early stages, and we are exploring various lines of inquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.“The investigation is still in its early stages, and we are exploring various lines of inquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
“We understand the public may be concerned and, as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”“We understand the public may be concerned and, as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”
Murphy added: “We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”Murphy added: “We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
Officers are carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation. Three other Iranian men were detained in a separate counter-terrorism operation in London on Saturday.
The arrests and searches are being supported by officers from Greater Manchester police and Wiltshire police, as well as colleagues from counter-terrorism policing from across the country. The Metropolitan police said two of the men, aged 39 and 44, were arrested at separate addresses in north-west London and one man, aged 55, was arrested at an address in west London.
The Met police later confirmed another three Iranian men had been arrested on Saturday in London as part of a separate counter-terrorism operation. It added: “This investigation is not connected to the arrest of five people yesterday as part of a separate Met counter-terrorism operation. Enquiries remain ongoing.”
Press Association and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report Cooper praised Britain’s police and security forces: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe.
“Protecting national security is the first duty of government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work.
“These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.
“The government continues to work with police and intelligence agencies to support all the action and security assessments that are needed to keep the country safe.”