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Terror raid: London suspects questioned Terror raid: London suspects questioned
(35 minutes later)
Four men are being questioned over an alleged terror plot after they were arrested in a series of raids by armed police officers across London.Four men are being questioned over an alleged terror plot after they were arrested in a series of raids by armed police officers across London.
The men - arrested at about 19:10 BST on Sunday in Whitechapel, Bayswater and Peckham - are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.The men - arrested at about 19:10 BST on Sunday in Whitechapel, Bayswater and Peckham - are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Searches are continuing at six addresses and on two vehicles.Searches are continuing at six addresses and on two vehicles.
Whitehall officials said the alleged plot was "potentially very serious".Whitehall officials said the alleged plot was "potentially very serious".
But they said it did not appear to be on anything like the scale of earlier major plots, such as the airline liquid bomb plot or the Birmingham rucksack bomb plot, which resulted in convictions.But they said it did not appear to be on anything like the scale of earlier major plots, such as the airline liquid bomb plot or the Birmingham rucksack bomb plot, which resulted in convictions.
The men were taken to a south London police station.The men were taken to a south London police station.
Two men, both aged 25, were arrested in a car in Mansell Street, Whitechapel, east London, after police fired "Hatton rounds" - ammunition designed to blow out tyres and blow open doors with minimal collateral damage.Two men, both aged 25, were arrested in a car in Mansell Street, Whitechapel, east London, after police fired "Hatton rounds" - ammunition designed to blow out tyres and blow open doors with minimal collateral damage.
A 28-year-old man was arrested at premises in Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, west London, and the fourth man, aged 29, was arrested in Peckham Hill Street, Peckham, south-east London.A 28-year-old man was arrested at premises in Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, west London, and the fourth man, aged 29, was arrested in Peckham Hill Street, Peckham, south-east London.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the decision to make arrests was taken on Sunday by a joint committee of senior officers from MI5 and the Met Police's Counter Terrorism Command.BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the decision to make arrests was taken on Sunday by a joint committee of senior officers from MI5 and the Met Police's Counter Terrorism Command.
As always, they faced a dilemma over whether to hold off longer to gather more evidence but then risk danger to the public, our correspondent said.As always, they faced a dilemma over whether to hold off longer to gather more evidence but then risk danger to the public, our correspondent said.
The alleged plot had been monitored for some time, he added.The alleged plot had been monitored for some time, he added.
George Paul, who saw the Bayswater arrest, said it had been "very dramatic, like the movies".George Paul, who saw the Bayswater arrest, said it had been "very dramatic, like the movies".
"What I saw was three policemen... holding an individual down while he was shouting 'please don't break my arms' or something of that ilk," he told BBC News."What I saw was three policemen... holding an individual down while he was shouting 'please don't break my arms' or something of that ilk," he told BBC News.
"They were basically trying to restrain him with another few officers ushering people away from the area.""They were basically trying to restrain him with another few officers ushering people away from the area."
And Ramin Massodi, who watched the arrest from inside the Persian restaurant where he works, said: "I heard shouting; then I looked outside and saw four cars and they grabbed him."And Ramin Massodi, who watched the arrest from inside the Persian restaurant where he works, said: "I heard shouting; then I looked outside and saw four cars and they grabbed him."
He said police officers pushed the suspect up against the glass of the restaurant.He said police officers pushed the suspect up against the glass of the restaurant.
Alistair Gillies, 38, who saw the same arrest, told BBC News he "noticed that a police car had pulled across the road".Alistair Gillies, 38, who saw the same arrest, told BBC News he "noticed that a police car had pulled across the road".
"There was probably in the region of about two dozen officers. The majority of them appeared to be plain clothes but they had on baseball caps with the checkerboard and police marking. Apart from that, they were dressed in plain clothes," he said."There was probably in the region of about two dozen officers. The majority of them appeared to be plain clothes but they had on baseball caps with the checkerboard and police marking. Apart from that, they were dressed in plain clothes," he said.
"It didn't look like they had just pulled a car over or had just picked someone up. It looked like there was a great deal of planning and a great deal of resources had been put on to tackling this situation." "It looked like there was a great deal of planning and a great deal of resources had been put on to tackling this situation."
Meanwhile, City of London council member John Fletcher, whose apartment backs on to Whitechapel's Mansell Street, said he initially heard two loud bangs which he believed to be fireworks.
He said it was only when he went to investigate that he realised the seriousness of the situation.
"[A policeman] said: 'You'll hear all about it in the papers tomorrow'," he said.
Neighbour Catherine Delgado, 43, who saw the incident, said about "five or six" cars surrounded one vehicle, blocking off the street in the process.
She said police shouted at the driver to get out of the vehicle, but when she looked he was refusing.