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| Ninth arrest over 'terror plot' | Ninth arrest over 'terror plot' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A ninth person has been arrested in Birmingham over what senior security sources say was an alleged plot to kidnap a member of the armed forces. | |
| Police made the arrest this afternoon on a motorway near the city. Eight suspects were earlier arrested following a series of morning raids. | |
| The "significant" operation involved police and the security service MI5. | |
| Security sources said a terror plot not aimed at mass casualties would mark "a different approach" to UK terrorism. | |
| Police said a total of 12 addresses in the Sparkhill, Washwood Heath, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas have been sealed off and are being searched following raids at about 0400 GMT. | |
| 'Dynamic operation' | |
| In a press conference at about 1530 GMT, Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw, of West Midlands Police, said the ninth arrest had been made just minutes earlier. | |
| "I think that illustrates to you that this remains a dynamic, fluid operation and this is by no means finished," he said. | |
| The search of all the premises would take "some days " to complete, he added. | |
| He said police were at "the foothills of what is a very, very major investigation for us" and officers were actively seeking help from the community, in particular from Muslims. | |
| Earlier, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said sources close to the investigation said the aim of the alleged plot was to kidnap a serving member of the armed forces, perhaps while they were on home leave. | |
| He stressed the arrests were based on intelligence, which could prove to be wrong. | He stressed the arrests were based on intelligence, which could prove to be wrong. |
| The Ministry of Defence said it could not confirm or deny reports of such a plot. | The Ministry of Defence said it could not confirm or deny reports of such a plot. |
| Two houses and a general store in Alum Rock, near Washwood Heath, were raided. | Two houses and a general store in Alum Rock, near Washwood Heath, were raided. |
| The Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill, which is believed to sell Islamic literature, was also raided. | The Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill, which is believed to sell Islamic literature, was also raided. |
| Police have cordoned off roads around Jackson Road and Foxton Road, in Alum Rock, and Poplar Road and Stratford Road, in Sparkhill. | Police have cordoned off roads around Jackson Road and Foxton Road, in Alum Rock, and Poplar Road and Stratford Road, in Sparkhill. |
| Police have not confirmed any of the raided addresses. | Police have not confirmed any of the raided addresses. |
| The BBC's Phil Mackie said there had been some anger and cynicism among locals who had witnessed previous terror raids in the area without anyone being charged. | The BBC's Phil Mackie said there had been some anger and cynicism among locals who had witnessed previous terror raids in the area without anyone being charged. |
| Baswant Kant, who lives in Stratford Road, near the junction with Poplar Road, said about 55 police officers "turned up in white vans" in the early hours of Wednesday morning. | Baswant Kant, who lives in Stratford Road, near the junction with Poplar Road, said about 55 police officers "turned up in white vans" in the early hours of Wednesday morning. |
| "They went into shops and restaurants along the road - a lot of people got arrested," he said. | "They went into shops and restaurants along the road - a lot of people got arrested," he said. |
| Saqib Hussain, of Sparkhill, said he had visited the raided book shop many times and "had never seen any suspicions of terrorist activity". | Saqib Hussain, of Sparkhill, said he had visited the raided book shop many times and "had never seen any suspicions of terrorist activity". |
| Mohamed Barber told BBC News his cousin was one of the men arrested in Alum Rock. | Mohamed Barber told BBC News his cousin was one of the men arrested in Alum Rock. |
| "We can vouch for him he is innocent. He doesn't even have time to go to Friday prayers - that's how busy he is," he added. | "We can vouch for him he is innocent. He doesn't even have time to go to Friday prayers - that's how busy he is," he added. |
| Abdul Ghaffoor, a regular shopper at the general store, said he had never heard politics being discussed in the shop. | Abdul Ghaffoor, a regular shopper at the general store, said he had never heard politics being discussed in the shop. |
| Public co-operation | Public co-operation |
| Leaders at the Alum Rock Islamic Centre, the main mosque in the area, said the community was shocked at events, but urged calm and appealed to people to co-operate with the police investigation. | Leaders at the Alum Rock Islamic Centre, the main mosque in the area, said the community was shocked at events, but urged calm and appealed to people to co-operate with the police investigation. |
| Ayub Pervaz, the mosque's president, said: "Our view is very clear. If people have broken the law they should be brought to justice. | Ayub Pervaz, the mosque's president, said: "Our view is very clear. If people have broken the law they should be brought to justice. |
| "But we also appeal for no trial by media. If any of those arrested turn out to be innocent, this should be made clear." | "But we also appeal for no trial by media. If any of those arrested turn out to be innocent, this should be made clear." |
| I hope everyone involved will act with the maximum restraint John Reid | I hope everyone involved will act with the maximum restraint John Reid |
| Vehicles, including a white Transit van, have been removed from Alum Rock. | Vehicles, including a white Transit van, have been removed from Alum Rock. |
| The eight people arrested following the morning raids are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". | The eight people arrested following the morning raids are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". |
| Home Secretary John Reid urged for restraint, but would not comment on the specific operation. | Home Secretary John Reid urged for restraint, but would not comment on the specific operation. |
| "I hope everyone involved will act with the maximum restraint. There is a major operation and investigation under way... there may be court proceedings." | "I hope everyone involved will act with the maximum restraint. There is a major operation and investigation under way... there may be court proceedings." |
| A Home Office spokeswoman added: "This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face." | A Home Office spokeswoman added: "This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face." |
| The Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit ran the operation with the West Midlands Police, the Metropolitan Police and MI5. | The Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit ran the operation with the West Midlands Police, the Metropolitan Police and MI5. |
Are you in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
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