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| Police free two in terror inquiry | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two of the nine men arrested during anti-terrorism raids in Birmingham last Wednesday have been released without charge by police. | Two of the nine men arrested during anti-terrorism raids in Birmingham last Wednesday have been released without charge by police. |
| The two said in a statement after their release that there had been no mention of an alleged kidnap plot. | The two said in a statement after their release that there had been no mention of an alleged kidnap plot. |
| Sources had told the BBC police were investigating an alleged plot to kidnap and murder a British Muslim soldier. | Sources had told the BBC police were investigating an alleged plot to kidnap and murder a British Muslim soldier. |
| Police said it was "normal" for people to be released without charge at this stage in "complex criminal enquiries". | |
| The two men were released from Coventry's Chace Avenue police station in the early hours of Wednesday morning. | The two men were released from Coventry's Chace Avenue police station in the early hours of Wednesday morning. |
| On Tuesday evening, police were granted an extra 72 hours to question the other seven men arrested. | |
| Not a word was ever mentioned to either of them about a plot to kidnap or the grisly suggestion of a beheading or even of a soldier at all Gareth Peirce | Not a word was ever mentioned to either of them about a plot to kidnap or the grisly suggestion of a beheading or even of a soldier at all Gareth Peirce |
| Gareth Peirce, solicitor for the two released men, said: "They have left the police station without any better understanding of why they were there than when they first arrived seven days ago. | |
| "Not a word was ever mentioned to either of them about a plot to kidnap or the grisly suggestion of a beheading or even of a soldier at all." | "Not a word was ever mentioned to either of them about a plot to kidnap or the grisly suggestion of a beheading or even of a soldier at all." |
| Both the men had been met with a "consistent refusal" of an explanation for their arrest, Ms Peirce added. | Both the men had been met with a "consistent refusal" of an explanation for their arrest, Ms Peirce added. |
| The pair had urged a swift release for the other seven men, she added. | The pair had urged a swift release for the other seven men, she added. |
| Police convoy | Police convoy |
| The remaining men are being held on suspicion of the commission, instigation or preparation of acts of terrorism. | The remaining men are being held on suspicion of the commission, instigation or preparation of acts of terrorism. |
| In a statement, West Midlands Police said the Crown Prosecution Service had been involved in the examination of evidence throughout the investigation. | |
| They said: "In all such operations people may be released without charge at this stage, while others may remain in custody for further investigation. | |
| "This is normal and to be expected in large, complex criminal enquiries where a number of arrests have taken place." | |
| They said they still have a "large amount of evidence seized during the searches to examine" and investigations are continuing. | |
| Balancing the safety of the public against the rights of the seven men in custody remained their priority, they added. | |
| Convoy | |
| A heavily-guarded police convoy arrived for Tuesday's hearing at Coventry Magistrates' Court, at which police were granted extra time to question the men. | A heavily-guarded police convoy arrived for Tuesday's hearing at Coventry Magistrates' Court, at which police were granted extra time to question the men. |
| Terror suspects can be held for up to 28 days without charge - but only if police can persuade a judge they need more time. | Terror suspects can be held for up to 28 days without charge - but only if police can persuade a judge they need more time. |
| Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, has met relatives of the nine arrested men. | Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, has met relatives of the nine arrested men. |
| He warned the investigation could become divisive. | He warned the investigation could become divisive. |
| "Everybody universally accepts that anyone engaged in a criminal activity should be subject to the law of the land," he said. | "Everybody universally accepts that anyone engaged in a criminal activity should be subject to the law of the land," he said. |
| "But that has to be done in a way that doesn't divide the society, that doesn't alienate the community; that doesn't put unnecessary burden on the communities who are struggling to cope with the burden." | "But that has to be done in a way that doesn't divide the society, that doesn't alienate the community; that doesn't put unnecessary burden on the communities who are struggling to cope with the burden." |
| Police investigating the alleged plot said on Monday they had finished searching 18 addresses. | Police investigating the alleged plot said on Monday they had finished searching 18 addresses. |
| Forensic teams searched addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas of Birmingham. | Forensic teams searched addresses in the Sparkhill, Alum Rock, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas of Birmingham. |