Five men including three in the Greater Manchester area have been arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act after police uncovered a suspected plot to target a single premises.
Counter terrorism police arrested a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area, a another man in the Manchester area as well as a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London
Four of the men arrested are Iranian nationals and the nationality of the fifth is still being established.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who is head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
“The investigation is still in its early stages, and we are exploring various lines of inquiry 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.”
He added: “We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised Britain’s police and security forces after Saturday’s spate of arrests.
“I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe. Protecting national security is the first duty of Government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work,” she told the PA news agency in a statement.
“These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.
