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Two men arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts
Two men arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts
(about 5 hours later)
Two young men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism.
Two young men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism, as police investigate fears of an Islamist-inspired plot to launch an attack in the UK.
Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command made the arrests in west London on Thursday morning. One man, aged 19, was arrested for preparing an act of terrorism while the other, aged 20, was held on suspicion of funding terrorism and knowing about an alleged act of terrorism but failing to tell the authorities.
A 19-year-old was detained on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and a 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of funding terrorism and failure to disclose information regarding an act of terrorism, Scotland Yard said.
He was also arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism that relates to a separate investigation being carried out by the south-east counter-terrorism unit, which covers the Thames Valley area bordering west London.
The older man was also held on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism as part of a separate investigation by the south-east counter-terrorism unit.
Police said they were searching addresses and vehicles in the Thames Valley area as well as in west and south-east London.
It is understood the alleged plot is suspected to be linked to Islamic extremism, but police refused to give further details.
They also said a third man, aged 19, had been detained in south-east London on suspicion of a religiously aggravated offence.
The suspects, both from London, are in custody following a planned raid on an address in west London on Thursday by the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command and the south-east counter-terrorism unit.
All three men have been taken to police stations for questioning.
Another 19-year-old man was arrested in south-east London on suspicion of a religiously aggravated offence in a separate matter and remains in custody, police said.
In a statement, police said: “The men, who are aged 19 and 20, were arrested at an address in west London as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led investigation by the Met’s counter-terrorism command, supported by the south-east counter-terrorism unit.”
Officers searched addresses and vehicles in west and south-east London and the Thames Valley area following the arrests.
Police also said the 20-year-old “was arrested on suspicion of funding of terrorism and failure to disclose information regarding an act of terrorism under section 16 and section 36B of the Terrorism Act 2000 respectively. Additionally, he was arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in relation to a separate investigation by the south-east counter-terrorism unit.”
The threat to the UK from Islamic extremist terrorism is assessed as being severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
A significant proportion of arrests of people on suspicion of involvement in violent jihad have not led to terrorism charges.
