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CJ Cregg
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Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
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 Wed May 24, 2006 4:38 am UK launches huge anti-terror sweep |
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| Quote: | UK launches huge anti-terror sweep
LONDON, England (CNN) -- British police arrested nine people on Wednesday in a major anti-terror operation involving 500 officers across the country.
"An extensive operation targeting individuals suspected of facilitating terrorism abroad is under way," a spokesman for Greater Manchester police told CNN.
One person was later released bringing the number held to eight.
Police did not say whether "facilitating terrorism abroad" meant fundraising for groups abroad, the plotting of attacks overseas or travelling abroad to fight jihad.
However it was understood not to be related to terrorism in the U.S., Northern Ireland or the rest of Europe.
Sources told the UK's Press Association the arrests were also not linked to the July 7 London bombings or the alleged July 21 attempted bomb attacks in the capital.
Greater Manchester Police's Anti-Terrorist Unit was leading the operation, which involved addresses being searched with warrants under the UK Terrorism Act in five police force areas.
Police refused to give any further details of those arrested and said the operation was still ongoing.
The action began at 3:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) Wednesday.
A UK Home Office spokeswoman said: "The Immigration Service supported by the police are involved in an ongoing operation."
The police forces involved were Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands, Greater Manchester Police said.
One man was arrested in Merseyside and the remaining seven were held in parts of Manchester, PA said. Police would not disclose where the ninth arrest was made.
Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch was assisting in the operation. Police raided addresses in Clarendon Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, northwest England and Widgeon Close in Fallowfield, Manchester, PA said.
A spokesman for Cleveland Police, noth east England, told PA that one house in Ayresome Street, Middlesbrough, had been raided but no arrests were made.
"Cleveland Police was one of five forces involved in an operation targeting individuals suspected of facilitating terrorism abroad," a spokesman said.
Merseyside Police told PA that one man was arrested in the area on suspicion of immigration offences.
At the Clarendon Road address, officers stood guard outside the terrace house, police vans were parked on the street and forensic officers went in and out, PA said.
Student Hassan Amiri, 17, who lives next door, told PA he was woken up at 3.00 a.m. by police shouting at the back of the house "Stand where you are."
The student said he thought two parents lived in the house with three children.
"I don't know them," he said. "They keep themselves to themselves. We never have any arguments with them, though. "There are always quite a lot of children coming round to the house with the Quran, so I think they must be a religious family. I don't know their names."
Another neighbor said they were an Arabic family. "They are a very quiet family," she said. "I don't know them personally but they never have much to do with anyone else on the street.
A man who lives a few doors down from the raided address, who did not wish to be named, claimed to PA that police raided the same property six months ago. Greater Manchester Police refused to confirm or deny that the property had been raided before.
� 2006 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. |
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