Five men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences following a pre-planned counter-terrorism operation in England, aimed at disrupting a suspected plot to target a specific premises.
The arrests were made on Saturday across various locations, with four Iranian nationals among those detained. The suspects, aged 29, 29, 40, and 46, were arrested in the Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale, and west London areas, respectively. They were detained under the Terrorism Act.
A fifth man, whose nationality and age are still being confirmed, was arrested in Manchester under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). All five men were apprehended on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and remain in police custody.
The Metropolitan Police have stated that the investigation is in its early stages, with officers working to establish any potential motivations behind the alleged plot. “We are exploring various lines of enquiry to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter-Terrorism Command.
The police confirmed that they are searching several addresses across Greater Manchester, London, and Swindon as part of the ongoing investigation. Additionally, the authorities are working closely with the affected site, which has been notified and is being supported by police.
The specific location targeted in the plot has not been disclosed by the authorities for operational reasons, but the Met assured the public that appropriate measures were being taken to address any potential threats.
The investigation, led by the Met’s Counter-Terrorism Command, is being supported by local police forces, including Greater Manchester Police and Wiltshire Police, as well as counter-terrorism officers from across the country.
“We understand the public may be concerned, and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant,” Murphy said. “If they see or hear anything that concerns them, I encourage them to contact us immediately.”
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