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'Kidnapping plot' search widens 'Kidnapping plot' search widens
(40 minutes later)
Six searches at properties in the Birmingham area have been completed in the police investigation into an alleged kidnapping plot. Police investigating an alleged kidnapping plot are to widen their search to another three properties.
Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw said another nine searches were continuing and there were warrants to search a further three. 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 Birmingham on Wednesday. He said officers were due to begin interviewing the nine men arrested in raids across the city.
They were arrested over an alleged plan to kidnap and murder a Muslim soldier. 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 number of exhibits" but would give no further details. 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 bags containing computer equipment, books and video players have been carried out of raided properties. 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 the raids took place, he said he would try to keep any disruption caused by the searches to a minimum. 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 ShawMy 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.
Earlier on Friday, religious leaders urged Muslims to control their anger over the way the raids had been conducted. 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.