SAS Back Anti-Terror Raids Foil Synagogue Attack Plot
Elite SAS troops reportedly backed counter-terror police in a dramatic series of raids across the UK. Five men were arrested over a suspected plot to attack a synagogue, in coordinated strikes across west London, Rochdale, Swindon, Manchester, and Stockport last Saturday evening.
Armed Raids Caught on Camera
Gripping footage shows armed officers storming a house in Rochdale, dragging a shirtless man from the property. In Swindon town centre, plain-clothes cops wrestled a suspect to the ground outside a Costa coffee shop.
- 40-year-old man from Rochdale
- Two 29-year-olds from Swindon and Stockport
- 46-year-old from west London
- Man from the Manchester area
Four suspects are Iranian nationals, while the fifth’s nationality remains unconfirmed. All remain in custody.
Special Forces ‘Highly Likely’ Involved
Colonel Philip Ingram, ex-British military intelligence, suggests SAS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) operatives probably supported the raids, citing the high threat level and possible hostile state links.
Separate Iranian Plots Under Scrutiny
Police also arrested three additional Iranian men in London under the National Security Act 2023, suspected of foreign power threat activity. Although treated as separate cases, authorities are investigating potential links between the two plots.
UK on High Alert
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called this “the most significant” counter-terror operation in recent years, warning of rising aggression from hostile states like Iran.
Jonathan Hall KC, independent reviewer of terrorism laws, urged for “more tools” to combat emerging threats, highlighting rogue states’ increasing use of organised crime gangs.
Police Warn Public to Stay Vigilant
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation. We are keeping affected sites updated and exploring all lines of enquiry to assess any further risks.”
Police urge the public to report any suspicious activity immediately. The Israeli Embassy in London has yet to comment on the incident.
