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| Ninth arrest over 'terror plot' | Ninth arrest over 'terror plot' |
| (40 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. | 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 in the city area. Eight men were arrested earlier following a series of morning raids. | Police made the arrest this afternoon on a motorway in the city area. Eight men were arrested earlier following a series of morning raids. |
| Police said their investigation may take "days, if not weeks". | |
| Security sources said a terror plot not aimed at mass casualties would mark "a different approach" to UK terrorism. | Security sources said a terror plot not aimed at mass casualties would mark "a different approach" to UK terrorism. |
| 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, say police. | 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, say police. |
| Eight men were arrested at separate addresses and are being held at a West Midlands police station. | Eight men were arrested at separate addresses and are being held at a West Midlands police station. |
| 'Dynamic operation' | '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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. |
| Community advice lines in a range of languages were being set up and 5,000 leaflets will be distributed to local people, he added. | Community advice lines in a range of languages were being set up and 5,000 leaflets will be distributed to local people, he added. |
| "We think is it is critical that we involve them in what is going on as much as we can," he said. | "We think is it is critical that we involve them in what is going on as much as we can," he said. |
| Muslim community leader Shabir Hussain said the community should co-operate with the police and remain vigilant of unusual activity in their homes. | Muslim community leader Shabir Hussain said the community should co-operate with the police and remain vigilant of unusual activity in their homes. |
| "The community is under stress," he said. | "The community is under stress," he said. |
| "They do not know where their children are, they do not know what they do. At the mosque we are saying 'open your eyes, look underneath your feet'." | "They do not know where their children are, they do not know what they do. At the mosque we are saying 'open your eyes, look underneath your feet'." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Anger and cynicism' | 'Anger and cynicism' |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| If any of those arrested turn out to be innocent, this should be made clear Ayub Pervaz, mosque president | If any of those arrested turn out to be innocent, this should be made clear Ayub Pervaz, mosque president |
| 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. |
| 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: "If people have broken the law they should be brought to justice. | Ayub Pervaz, the mosque's president, said: "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." |
| The eight arrested following the morning raids are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". | The eight arrested following the morning raids are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". |
| Home Secretary John Reid urged restraint and described it as a "major operation". | Home Secretary John Reid urged restraint and described it as a "major operation". |
| 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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