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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Three men held by terror police | Three men held by terror police |
| (about 5 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. | 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. |
| 'Complex inquiry' | |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| Police are searching the men's properties | |
| "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." |
| Bill Crawshaw, terminal duty manager at Manchester Airport, said the arrests had no effect on the airport. | 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. | "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. | 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." | 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." |