Raids were held at various locations as part of a ‘pre-planned’ probe into a plot to target ‘specific premises’, according to the Metropolitan Police, whose Counter Terrorism Command led the operation
Eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, were arrested in raids by counter terror cops after two separate investigations, it was confirmed today.
Five raids were held at various locations around England as part of a “pre-planned” probe into a plot to target “specific premises”, the Metropolitan Police said. Their Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) led the operation. It did not give details of the targeted premises but said those affected had been ‘made aware’ of the arrests. Four of those held, two aged 29, one aged 40 and another aged 46, are Iranian nationals. Police said the nationality and age of the fifth was still being established.
Three other men, all Iranian, were arrested in London on Saturday under national security legislation as part of a separate investigation by the CTC. The two operations were not connected. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police and security services for the action to “keep our country safe”.
All of the five were arrested on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism. They were detained in Swindon, west London, Stockport, as well as Rochdale and Manchester, and remain in police custody.
One witness to the Rochdale raid, which was captured on video, said the suspect ‘was dragged out in his underpants.’ He said: “I saw all the black cars that came down. They all jumped out with guns. One of them said ‘get back in your house’ and I thought ‘okay I’m going to do what I’ve been told.’
“I said to the missus ‘it’s all kicking off here’ and we watched from the window. They just all came streaming down then. There must have been about 30 of them. There was a woman there who put her hands out to the police. It was as if she knew what was happening, or had an idea and was trying to stop them going in.
“They just moved her to the side and told her to get out of the way. There was then a massive, loud explosion. I believe it was some sort of detonator they used to blast the door open. The missus saw it and said it was like a big flash of fire.
“I then heard someone shouting ‘get down on your knees.’ Then they dragged someone out from round the back to the front. I didn’t see his face but he was in his underpants and he had his hands tied behind his back. And that was it. It was over really quickly.”
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of CTC, said: “The investigation is still in its early stages. We are exploring various lines of enquiry 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.”
His officers have responsibility for leading counter terrorism-related probes including investigations into espionage and state threats. In the operation in which five men were arrested, four were detained under the Terrorism Act. The fifth man was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Pace) Act.
A Met Police spokesperson said of the five arrests: “All were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2006. Four men are Iranian nationals and were detained under TACT. The nationality of the fifth man is still being established and he was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
“All five men currently remain in police custody. As part of the investigation, officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with this investigation. The investigation relates to a suspected plot to target a specific premises.
“Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time.”
The raids involved the CTC, Greater Manchester and Wiltshire Police, as well as counter-terrorism officers from across the country. 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, and had been taken into custody while searches continued.
Ms Cooper added: “These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.”