WalesOnline
Britain's top counter terrorism officer said the arrest of 12 suspects
in four cities, including five in the Cardiff areas of Riverside and
Ely, over fears they were preparing to launch an attack was
"absolutely necessary" tonight.
Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner John Yates warned searches of
homes in London, Cardiff, Stoke and Birmingham could take days to
complete as police prepare to question the men.
He said the case highlighted how the public must remain vigilant and
urged anyone who witnesses suspicious activity to report it as the
national threat level remains severe.
Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Mr Yates said: "With the
information we have, I believe today's arrests were absolutely
necessary in order to keep the public safe."
The 12 suspects, aged between 17 and 28 and at least five of whom are
of Bangladeshi origin, were arrested during 5am raids at homes in
London, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Cardiff at 5am.
Police swooped over fears the group were ramping up their activities
after months of surveillance and monitoring by counter terrorism
officers and colleagues at MI5.
Sources said they were investigating if the gang were inspired by al
Qaida but played down speculation they may have been planning a
Christmas or New Year bomb attack.
They said that although police have gathered enough information to
fear the suspects pose a threat, they remain unclear about exactly
what their intentions may have been.
Officials said the operation was not linked to the recent failed
Stockholm suicide bombing or the Yemen al Qaida printer bomb plot and
was not modelled on the Mumbai commando-style atrocity.
Police officers undertaking the raids were unarmed, suggesting police
had no information that the men had guns, explosive devices or other
potential weapons.
The operation was led by West Midlands Police's counter terrorism
unit, supported by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command, South
Wales Police and Staffordshire Police.
Three terraced houses, including two neighbouring properties, were
searched in Grove Street, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent.
A man, described by neighbours as aged in his mid-20s, was also
arrested at a three-bedroomed 1970s terrace in Rialto Place, Tunstall.
Counter terrorism police raided five properties across Stoke,
including the Cobridge and Tunstall areas, in June 2008 after reports
extremist literature was being distributed. No-one was charged on that
occasion.
Police said four men, one aged 19, two aged 26 and one aged 25, were
being questioned. One was arrested at a friend's house in Birmingham.
In Cardiff, police arrested three men at their homes in the Riverside
area and two at their homes in the Ely area. They were aged between 23
and 28.
In London, police arrested three men aged between 17 and 28 at their
homes in the centre of the capital. A fourth home was also being
searched.
All 12 suspects were detained on suspicion of the commission,
preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in Britain.
The arrests were the most high-profile raids in Britain since April
2009, when 12 men were detained across northern England.
All were released without charge but authorities still insisted they
had thwarted an al Qaida bomb plot based in Manchester.
Iraqi officials claimed last week that captured insurgents believed
the Stockholm bombing was part of a series of Christmas season
attacks.
But both British and German officials insisted there were no specific
threats to their countries over the festive period.
In October, the United States warned its citizens living or travelling
in Europe to be wary amid reports of attack plots.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I have been kept fully informed
about the police operation that has resulted in 12 arrests.
"For obvious reasons it is not appropriate for me to comment further
at this early stage of what could be a complex and lengthy
investigation.
"We know we face a real and serious threat from terrorism and I would
like to thank the police and security service for working to keep our
country safe."
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