Seven Iranians among eight arrested in UK counterterrorism probes

By AFP
May 05, 2025
A general view of a signage outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, in London, Britain March 21, 2023.—Reuters
A general view of a signage outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, in London, Britain March 21, 2023.—Reuters

LONDON: British police on Sunday said eight people, including seven Iranian nationals, were arrested in two separate counterterrorism probes.

In one operation, five men -- four of them Iranian -- were arrested on suspicion of “preparation of a terrorist act”, London´s Metropolitan police said in a statdment. The arrests were carried out in London, Swindon and the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of “terrorism offences”.

The men, aged between 29 and 46, were detained by Counter Terrorism Police on Saturday in relation to “a suspected plot to target a specific premises” -- which was not named -- and remain in custody.

The four Iranian men were arrested under the Terrorism Act, while the fifth man, whose nationality was still being established, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Interior minister Yvette Cooper said these were “serious events” part of the UK´s response to “national security threats”.