This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6325165.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
'Kidnapping plot' search widens | 'Kidnapping plot' search widens |
(40 minutes later) | |
Police investigating an alleged kidnapping plot are to widen their search to another three properties. | |
Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw said six searches of premises in Birmingham had already been completed and another nine were continuing. | |
He said officers were due to begin interviewing the nine men arrested in raids across the city. | |
They are being held at a Coventry police station on suspicion of planning to kidnap and murder a Muslim soldier. | |
'Minimum disruption' | 'Minimum disruption' |
At an afternoon press conference, ACC Shaw told reporters the searches so far had yielded a "significant quantity of exhibits" but would give no further details. | |
It is known however that over the last two days cars and vans have been removed from streets, and computer equipment, books and video players have been taken from raided properties. | |
Addressing the communities where Wednesday's raids took place, he said he would try to keep any disruption caused by the searches to a minimum. | |
My job is to continue to make sure I balance the needs of the public, the safety of the public, and the rights of the men who are in custody Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw | My job is to continue to make sure I balance the needs of the public, the safety of the public, and the rights of the men who are in custody Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw |
"Can I just assure everybody that we do these searches as quickly as possible - but we do need to balance the disruption we are causing you with doing a thorough, professional job," he said. | "Can I just assure everybody that we do these searches as quickly as possible - but we do need to balance the disruption we are causing you with doing a thorough, professional job," he said. |
He added that he was also aware of "considerable bewilderment" about what had been alleged to have taken place. | He added that he was also aware of "considerable bewilderment" about what had been alleged to have taken place. |
"Despite certain labels given to those men by the media, what we are dealing with here in its purest sense is criminality," he said. | "Despite certain labels given to those men by the media, what we are dealing with here in its purest sense is criminality," he said. |
"My job is to continue to make sure I balance the needs of the public, the safety of the public, and the rights of the men who are in custody." | "My job is to continue to make sure I balance the needs of the public, the safety of the public, and the rights of the men who are in custody." |
'Control anger' | |
He stressed that the treatment of the nine suspects was being kept under scrutiny. | He stressed that the treatment of the nine suspects was being kept under scrutiny. |
They were arrested under the Terrorism Act over what security sources say was a plan to film an execution-style murder of a British soldier and post it on the web. | |
Since then, forensic teams have been combing addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas of the city. | |
On Thursday, a district judge granted police a seven-day extension to interview the suspects. | |
Under new terror laws, police can apply in court for a series of extensions up to 28 days. | |
Meanwhile, religious leaders have urged Muslims to control their anger over the way the raids were conducted. | |
Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, Dr Mohammad Naseem, said Muslims felt "persecuted unjustly" by the government. | |
Police officers have been handing out leaflets aimed at reassuring local people. |