1/ Five men—four of them Iranian nationals—have been arrested across England in a suspected terror plot. The operation, led by the Met Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, is part of a fast-moving national investigation. Here’s what we know:
2/ The arrests took place on Saturday, 3 May: •Swindon: 29-year-old man •West London: 46-year-old man •Stockport: 29-year-old man •Rochdale: 40-year-old man •Manchester: Man (age unconfirmed)
3/ All were arrested for preparing a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act 2006. •Four are Iranian nationals •The fifth man’s nationality is still being established Police are now searching addresses in London, Manchester & Swindon.
4/ The suspected plot targeted a specific premises—details remain classified. Police are in contact with the affected site. Commander Murphy: “The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation”
5/ The Islamic Republic of Iran. remains one of the biggest state sponsors of terrorism internationally. The threat exists here in the UK. Police say they are working “to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public.”
In a separate investigation, police have arrested three Iranian men at addresses in London. Two of them, aged 39 and 44, were arrested at separate addresses in north-west London while the third, aged 55, was arrested in west London. [Telegraph]