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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Anti-terror police arrest four men in London raids | Anti-terror police arrest four men in London raids |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four men have been arrested in London as part of an investigation into Islamist-related terrorism, Scotland Yard has said. | Four men have been arrested in London as part of an investigation into Islamist-related terrorism, Scotland Yard has said. |
| It is understood that one of the four is suspected of having a connection to Islamic State (Isis), the violent group that has captured large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, and that the arrests are linked to a possible plot. | It is understood that one of the four is suspected of having a connection to Islamic State (Isis), the violent group that has captured large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, and that the arrests are linked to a possible plot. |
| One of the suspects was Tasered during the dawn raids across the capital. The presence of officers from the Specialist Firearms Command suggests the risk assessment was high. | One of the suspects was Tasered during the dawn raids across the capital. The presence of officers from the Specialist Firearms Command suggests the risk assessment was high. |
| The men, aged 20 to 21, were being questioned at police stations in central London on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. | The men, aged 20 to 21, were being questioned at police stations in central London on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. |
| Foreign policy and security analysts have been warning that there could be repercussions in the UK after British fighter planes joined the bombing of Isis targets in Iraq. | Foreign policy and security analysts have been warning that there could be repercussions in the UK after British fighter planes joined the bombing of Isis targets in Iraq. |
| The arrests are not connected to the Isis member with a British accent who has been linked to the beheadings of foreign hostages and who the FBI claims to have identified. | The arrests are not connected to the Isis member with a British accent who has been linked to the beheadings of foreign hostages and who the FBI claims to have identified. |
| Surveillance led the security service MI5 and counter terrorism officers to assess that one of the men may have access to weapons, hence the decision to send armed officers to one of the addresses raided from Scotland Yard’s specialist firearms unit SCO19. It was at that address that the Taser was fired. | |
| It is not believed that any plot involved explosives, although searches were described as being at an early stage. | |
| The four men arrested were all resident in Britain. One of the addresses was in west London and the raids happened early this morning. | |
| The raids followed a pre-planned operation with at least some of the men having been subject to monitoring by counter terrorism investigators for some time. | |
| Following a joint meeting between Scotland Yard counter terrorism command and MI5 at an executive liaison group, the decision was made to disrupt any plot. Counter terrorism investigators believed they had acquired enough material to stage arrests. | |
| The Metropolitan police said: “One of the men aged 21 was Tasered during his arrest. He was not injured and did not require medical treatment. | The Metropolitan police said: “One of the men aged 21 was Tasered during his arrest. He was not injured and did not require medical treatment. |
| “SO15 officers were assisted in the execution of warrants at one of the addresses by officers from the specialist firearms command (SCO19). No shots were fired. | “SO15 officers were assisted in the execution of warrants at one of the addresses by officers from the specialist firearms command (SCO19). No shots were fired. |
| “A number of residential addresses and vehicles are being searched by specialist officers in west and central London as part of the investigation. The searches are ongoing. | “A number of residential addresses and vehicles are being searched by specialist officers in west and central London as part of the investigation. The searches are ongoing. |
| “These arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism.” | “These arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism.” |
| Some past high-profile terrorism arrests have been based on intelligence which has turned out to be false, and have led to accusations that police and MI5 have ramped up the nature of plots. | Some past high-profile terrorism arrests have been based on intelligence which has turned out to be false, and have led to accusations that police and MI5 have ramped up the nature of plots. |
| The fear of a terrorist attack being carried out by people with connections to Syria or Iraq led the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to recommend raising the terrorist threat level in August to severe, its second-highest level. Announcing the decision, the home secretary, Theresa May, said it was “related to developments in Syria and Iraq, where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the west”. | The fear of a terrorist attack being carried out by people with connections to Syria or Iraq led the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to recommend raising the terrorist threat level in August to severe, its second-highest level. Announcing the decision, the home secretary, Theresa May, said it was “related to developments in Syria and Iraq, where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the west”. |