Eight arrested in two separate anti-terror operations

From the BBC and The Telegraph

The BBC can be relied upon to get a police statement correct and they were first to have the number of arrests at 8. 

Five were arrested at various locations around England on Saturday as part of a “pre-planned” investigation into a plot to “target a specific premises”, the Metropolitan Police said. Four – two aged 29, one aged 40 and one 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 as part of a separate counter-terror police investigation. Two of the men, aged 39 and 44 respectively, were arrested at separate addresses in north-west London. A 55-year-old man was also apprehended at a third address, located in west London. Searches also continue at the three addresses across London.

The London trio were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 and remain in custody, a police statement said.

A second statement from the Metromolitan Police on the group of five says 

[A] a 29-year-old man was arrested in the Swindon area
[B] a 46-year-old man was arrested in west London
[C] a 29-year-old man was arrested in the Stockport area
[D] a 40-year-old man was arrested in the Rochdale area
[E] a man (age to be confirmed) was arrested in the Manchester area

All five men were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2006. Four men [A-D] are Iranian nationals and were detained under TACT. The nationality of the fifth man [E] 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.

Commander Dominic Murphy, 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 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. . .

The arrests and search activity is being supported by officers from Greater Manchester Police and Wiltshire Police, as well as colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing from across the country.

Police said the two operations were not connected.