05 August 2004

Questioning continues for 12 held in anti-terror raids

Police are continuing to question 12 men who were arrested on Tuesday in anti-terror raids across the country.

Thirteen men were arrested by anti-terror officers as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation.

One man has since been released without further police action as officers from the Met’s Anti Terrorist Branch continue to question 12 men who are aged between 19 and 32 years at a police station in central London.

The detainees are all reported to be of Asian ethnicity, but their nationalities have not been revealed as yet.

The men have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Arrests included: two in Blackburn; one in Watford; one in Luton; five in Willesden, north London (one person later released); one in Wembley and one in Sudbury, north London; and two in Paddington, London.

Metropolitan police officers are continuing to search a number of premises in London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Lancashire after executing search warrants under the Terrorism Act 2000.

(gmcg)