More deadly Iran-backed plots to launch terror attacks across the UK are being probed in race against time to smash shadowy cells trying to destroy campaigners outspoken about Tehran regime.
Counter-terror officers are in a race against time to smash more alleged Iran-backed terror plots against UK-based dissidents, the Mirror can reveal. There are thought to be chilling plots running into ‘double-figures’ against outspoken Iranian Brits who have been critical about the tyrannical Tehran regime, according to sources.
It is understood outstanding shadowy missions in the UK involve a range of crimes ranging from sabotage to individual assassinations against campaigners. Eight men, including seven Iranians, were arrested in raids by counter terror cops in two separate investigations, it was confirmed over the weekend. Detectives are today continuing to question five of the men arrested over an alleged plan to target a specific “premises,” according to the police. One police swoop netted five men at various locations around England. Four of those held, two aged 29, one 40 and another 46, are Iranian nationals.
The nationality and age of the fifth is still being established. Three other men, also Iranian, were arrested in London on Saturday under national security legislation as part of a separate probe by the police Counter Terrorism Command. It is believed the arrests were all related to an ongoing terror campaign against Iranian dissidents.
The target or targets are thought to be people – and possibly organisations – who have spoken out against the Iranian regime. But other investigations into similar suspected threats, possibly running into double figures, are ongoing.
Special forces were thought to be involved, acting as a liaison between their base and counterterror police. A source told the Mirror on Monday: “The hope will now be that these seizures will disrupt other ongoing plots that were not as pressing.
“At the very least they could set off a chain of communications between other plotters and that may open up new leads. Either people will halt their plans or they could accelerate or bring them forward, making this an intense time for counter-terrorism operations. It could be a race against time.”
The group of five were arrested on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism in Swindon, West London, Manchester, Stockport and Rochdale. One witness to the Rochdale raid, which was captured in video footage, described a convoy of black cars arriving. He said: “They all jumped out with guns.
“There was about 30 of them. There was a woman there who put her hands out to the police. They just moved her to the side. There was then a massive, explosion. I believe it was some sort of detonator used to blast the door open. Then they dragged someone out from round the back. He was in his underpants and he had his hands tied behind his back.”
A Met spokesman said: “The investigation relates to a suspected plot to target a specific premises. Officers have been in contact with the affected site.” In the separate operation, the Met said three men aged 39, 44 and 55 were arrested under the National Security Act at three separate addresses in North West London and West London.
It is believed other investigations into similar alleged terror threats are ongoing, possibly running into double figures. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.”
MI5 chief Ken McCallum last year revealed his intelligence agency and police have since 2022 smashed 20 Iran-backed terror plots against UK-based critics of the Tehran regime, which has in recent years stepped up its efforts to silence dissenters.