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Ten men arrested in terror raids Ten held after security blunder
(about 1 hour later)
Ten men have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism operation across the north west of England. Ten men have been arrested in the North West of England after Britain's most senior counter terrorism police officer sparked a security alert.
Addresses are being raided, including an internet cafe in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester and a guest house in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick said he "deeply regretted" revealing a secret document to photographers when he arrived for a briefing at No 10.
Counter-terrorism officers also arrested two men at the main library at Liverpool John Moores University. The document, clearly marked "secret", carried an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terrorism operation.
Officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit carried out the raids with support from other forces. The ten suspects were later arrested at locations across north-west England.
Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary are helping carry out the series of raids which were launched on Wednesday afternoon. Two men outside the main library at Liverpool John Moores University were arrested by armed officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit
It is thought the raids were brought forward following a security leak earlier on Wednesday. Other students said they heard police shouting at the two suspects, then saw them lying face down on the floor.
Photographers caught Britain's most senior counter terrorism police officer, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, clutching sensitive documents as he arrived at 10 Downing Street for a briefing. Student panic
Among the papers under his arm was a white document clearly marked "secret" and carrying an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terrorism operation. Witnesses said they were advised over the library loudspeaker to stay away from the windows for their own safety.
The information included the names of several senior officers, locations and details about the nature of the overseas threat. "Everyone was just panicking," one student told the BBC.
On Wednesday evening he apologised, saying he "deeply regretted" leaving the document on show. Other addresses raided by counter-terror officers, who were assisted by helped by officers from Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary, included an internet cafe in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester and a guest house in Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Students at Liverpool John Moores University said two men were walking towards the library when 14 armed police officers surrounded and arrested them. An image of a man being arrested at Liverpool John Moores University
BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft said a Greater Manchester Police spokesman would not comment when asked whether the police action was in response to a suspected terrorist operation in the UK or overseas. Earlier on Wednesday press photographers in Downing Street snapped Mr Quick clutching a white document marked "secret" and containing the names of several senior officers, locations and details about the nature of the overseas threat. Details of the information revealed cannot be reported.
Nor would he be drawn on whether the suspected threat was imminent, saying only that the police had taken action at an "appropriate" time, our correspondent said. Mr Quick was attending the meeting in his role as lead for counter terrorism and for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).
On Wednesday evening he apologised to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson for the slip.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Assistant Commissioner Quick accepts he made a mistake on leaving a sensitive document on open view and deeply regrets it.
"He has apologised to the Commissioner and colleagues."
The cafe in the basement of a row of shops on a main road in Manchester has a sign outside advertising itself as Cyber Net Cafe and computer repair shop.
Witnesses said two men were taken from the cafe after police arrived.
Mesu Raza, who lives in a flat above the cafe, said: "I saw police arrest two people and put them in a police van. They had handcuffs on, they were Asian men, and the police were armed.
"Two police vans arrived outside the shop and there was more police went round the back. There were many officers and a large number of police vans."
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Footage of an anti-terror raid at Liverpool John Moores University
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