Eight anti-terror arrests in central England
LONDON - Eight people were arrested under anti-terrorism laws Wednesday in the central English city of Birmingham, police said, while one report said a planned major terrorist plot had been foiled.
The exact locations were not disclosed but BBC radio said they understood the 4:00 am (0400 GMT) raids took place in the Alum Rock and Sparkhill areas, which both have a majority south Asian population, mostly of Pakistani origin.
Home Secretary John Reid was being kept updated about the operation, his office said in London, underlining the “real and serious nature” of the terrorist threat Britain faces.
West Midlands Police said those detained were held “on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000” while the Home Office said it was part of a “nationwide operation”.
“The arrests were part of a counter-terrorism operation co-ordinated and led by the Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, supported by officers from the West Midlands Police and Metropolitan Police,” police said in a statement.
“A number of addresses in Birmingham have been secured and sealed off and are currently being searched by officers from West Midlands Police and Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.”
Sky News television quoted unnamed sources as saying that a major terrorist attack, planned for some time, had been foiled.
But the force said the operation posed “no specific threat” to the area but as a precautionary measure they would have more officers at the scenes of the arrests.
A further update is expected at about 11:30 am (1130 GMT) followed by a news conference at 3:30 pm (1530 GMT), it added.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The Home Secretary was fully briefed on the operation and is receiving regular updates as developments occur.
“This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face.”
The current threat level to Britain from terrorism currently stands at “severe” — the second highest level — meaning an attack is “highly likely”, according to the domestic intelligence service MI5.
Wednesday’s arrests come after police detained a total of five people in raids in Manchester, north-west England, and Halifax, in nearby West Yorkshire, on January 23.
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FoxNews reported that SkyNews was reporting that the plot involved the kidnapping of a soldier, ransom and ultimately his beheading (I cannot remember if torture was to be involved). It would all be recorded on video and released on the internet.
***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***
BREAKING NEWS: Muslim soldier 'kidnap plot' foiled
An alleged terrorist plot to carry out an Iraqi-style kidnapping of a British Muslim soldier was thwarted today in a major operation by anti-terror police.
Eight men were arrested in a series of early morning raids at 12 addresses across Birmingham.
Security sources said the alleged plot was to carry out a "close quarters" style abduction of a Muslim soldier, which could have mirrored the kidnappings of the British hostages Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan by Iraqi insurgents.
The victim would have been filmed, made to plead for his life and ultimately executed, sources alleged.
Sources said a target for the alleged plot had already been identified.
He was a young Muslim soldier in the British army who had served in Afghanistan.
West Midlands Police, which led today's raids, refused to confirm claims that the target had been identified, made aware of the threat and placed under protective custody.
The kidnap plot was said to have been in the later stages of planning.
Such a tactic has not been employed by terrorists in the UK but is a constant threat for foreigners in Iraq.
Sources said it marked a new approach to terrorism and that a major terrorist incident had been thwarted.
...
***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***
BREAKING NEWS: Ninth arrest in 'terror kidnap plot'
A ninth person has been arrested in connection with the alleged terror kidnap plot, West Midlands Police said today.
The suspect was siezed on a motorway in the Birmingham area, said Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw, from West Midlands Police.
Earlier, eight men had been arrested by anti-terror police in dawn raids against an alleged terrorist plot to carry out an Iraqi-style kidnapping of a British Muslim soldier.
Mr Shaw said officers were carrying out a "very, very major investigation" which would take "days if not weeks".
Security sources said the alleged plot was to carry out a "close quarters" style abduction of a Muslim soldier, which could have mirrored the kidnappings of the British hostages Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan by Iraqi insurgents.
The victim would have been filmed, made to plead for his life and ultimately executed, sources alleged.Sources said a target for the alleged plot had already been identified.
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Pertinent Links:
1) Eight anti-terror arrests in central England
2) BREAKING NEWS: Muslim soldier 'kidnap plot' foiled
3) BREAKING NEWS: Ninth arrest in 'terror kidnap plot'
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
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