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Three men held by terror police | Three men held by terror police |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of committing terror offences, police say. | Three men have been arrested on suspicion of committing terror offences, police say. |
Two of the men were held at Manchester Airport, while the third was detained in nearby Accrington. | Two of the men were held at Manchester Airport, while the third was detained in nearby Accrington. |
Lancashire Police said the men, aged 21, 22 and 23, were all from the Blackburn area. Their homes are being searched by specialist officers. | |
The arrests were a joint operation between Lancashire Police and Greater Manchester Counter Terrorism Unit. | The arrests were a joint operation between Lancashire Police and Greater Manchester Counter Terrorism Unit. |
Ch Supt Andy Rhodes, of Lancashire Police, said: "Lancashire Constabulary will investigate any information that is passed to us, and ensure it is accurate, before responding in a proportionate and measured way. | Ch Supt Andy Rhodes, of Lancashire Police, said: "Lancashire Constabulary will investigate any information that is passed to us, and ensure it is accurate, before responding in a proportionate and measured way. |
I would ask local residents to be patient with us Ch Supt Andy Rhodes | I would ask local residents to be patient with us Ch Supt Andy Rhodes |
"These arrests and subsequent searches of the nearby premises will be conducted with sensitivity and carried out as quickly as possible to ensure minimum impact on the three areas concerned. | "These arrests and subsequent searches of the nearby premises will be conducted with sensitivity and carried out as quickly as possible to ensure minimum impact on the three areas concerned. |
"However, these types of inquiries can be complex and may take time to resolve. | "However, these types of inquiries can be complex and may take time to resolve. |
"I would ask local residents to be patient with us and to be assured that we will keep them updated in relation to the investigation as and when we can." | "I would ask local residents to be patient with us and to be assured that we will keep them updated in relation to the investigation as and when we can." |
'Worrying' | |
Bill Crawshaw, terminal duty manager at Manchester Airport, said the arrests had no effect on the airport. | |
"It is a total police operation and we didn't even know that it had happened until afterwards," he added. | |
Omar Hussain, who lives near the houses being searched in Blackburn, said he had been handed a leaflet by police advising people of the arrests. | |
He added: "It's really worrying that it's so close. It's like 'oh my God, who is it?' You can't believe it's actually happening on your street, in your community." |