Four men arrested during a sweeping counter-terror operation across England can be held for further questioning until Saturday, 17 May, after magistrates granted warrants of further detention.
The men — aged 29 to 46 — are Iranian nationals and were arrested on Saturday, 3 May, under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which covers the preparation of terrorist acts.
? Where the arrests happened:
- [A] 29-year-old man – Swindon
- [B] 46-year-old man – West London
- [C] 29-year-old man – Stockport
- [D] 40-year-old man – Rochdale
- [E] 24-year-old man – Manchester (detained under PACE, now bailed)
Ongoing Investigation
The fifth suspect [E], also an Iranian national, was held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and has since been released on bail with strict conditions, pending further enquiries.
Commander Murphy added:
“We appreciate the support of police forces across the country. The public plays a vital role in preventing terrorism — if you see something suspicious, say something.”
National Security on Alert
The arrests form part of a nationally pre-planned operation led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, under the umbrella of Counter Terrorism Policing UK.
[block_2]
So far, no further details have been released regarding specific plots, targets, or ideological motives — but sources say the case involves serious national security concerns.
