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| Walsall and Tipton mosque blasts: Two men arrested | Walsall and Tipton mosque blasts: Two men arrested |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Two men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in connection with explosions near two mosques. | Two men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in connection with explosions near two mosques. |
| A "loud bang" was heard near the Aisha Mosque, in Rutter Street, Walsall on 21 June while a second explosion happened near Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton on Friday. | A "loud bang" was heard near the Aisha Mosque, in Rutter Street, Walsall on 21 June while a second explosion happened near Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton on Friday. |
| The men, aged 25 and 22, are described by police as Eastern European. | |
| A Wolverhampton mosque has also been been evacuated after reports of "a possible device activation" last month. | A Wolverhampton mosque has also been been evacuated after reports of "a possible device activation" last month. |
| Police received the information about the incident on 28 June at Wolverhampton Central Mosque, Waterloo Road, as part of their investigation into the explosions in Walsall and Tipton. | Police received the information about the incident on 28 June at Wolverhampton Central Mosque, Waterloo Road, as part of their investigation into the explosions in Walsall and Tipton. |
| The building and surrounding area was evacuated at about 20:00 BST. | The building and surrounding area was evacuated at about 20:00 BST. |
| Specialist and local officers are expected to remain at the scene throughout the evening. | Specialist and local officers are expected to remain at the scene throughout the evening. |
| A military bomb disposal team is in attendance and a number of roads have been closed. | A military bomb disposal team is in attendance and a number of roads have been closed. |
| 'Suspect forced down' | 'Suspect forced down' |
| Earlier army bomb disposal experts were at an area near Talbot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham where some properties were evacuated. | Earlier army bomb disposal experts were at an area near Talbot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham where some properties were evacuated. |
| The pair were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. | The pair were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. |
| The first suspect was arrested after being spotted by officers in the local area. The other man was arrested at a nearby property. | The first suspect was arrested after being spotted by officers in the local area. The other man was arrested at a nearby property. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, from West Midlands Police, said: "I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support and the way in which they responded to our appeal. | |
| "I appreciate that there is significant disruption whilst experts search and check this area. These road closures are essential to ensure that we keep everyone safe. | "I appreciate that there is significant disruption whilst experts search and check this area. These road closures are essential to ensure that we keep everyone safe. |
| "Investigations like this are complex and we need to ensure that we obtain every piece of information or forensic evidence possible." | "Investigations like this are complex and we need to ensure that we obtain every piece of information or forensic evidence possible." |
| One eyewitness told BBC WM about 100 people had initially been evacuated from businesses close to the area being searched. | One eyewitness told BBC WM about 100 people had initially been evacuated from businesses close to the area being searched. |
| Embreen Hashmi said: "All of a sudden there was an entourage of police and they cordoned off the whole business park and everybody had to come out on to the street. | Embreen Hashmi said: "All of a sudden there was an entourage of police and they cordoned off the whole business park and everybody had to come out on to the street. |
| "We weren't sure what it was and everybody was saying that it was some sort of bomb scare which frightened us. | "We weren't sure what it was and everybody was saying that it was some sort of bomb scare which frightened us. |
| "When we spoke to people that worked in the same building as one of the suspects he said there was a chap that they used to work with and that he was actually being forced down by armed police and they had to evacuate the building." | "When we spoke to people that worked in the same building as one of the suspects he said there was a chap that they used to work with and that he was actually being forced down by armed police and they had to evacuate the building." |
| Police were called to the mosque in Walsall the day after the explosion was heard after a member of the public discovered debris from a device. | Police were called to the mosque in Walsall the day after the explosion was heard after a member of the public discovered debris from a device. |
| A 75-year-old man from the town was arrested last month but has since been eliminated from enquiries. | A 75-year-old man from the town was arrested last month but has since been eliminated from enquiries. |
| The other explosion was on a disused railway line near Binfield Street in Tipton last week. | The other explosion was on a disused railway line near Binfield Street in Tipton last week. |