British counterterrorism officers have detained several Iranian men in connection with an alleged plan to carry out an attack in London, according to a statement by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday. The arrests occurred on Saturday and spanned various locations across England. Five men, aged between 29 and 46, were taken into custody under suspicion of preparing ‘a terrorist act’.
Of the apprehended individuals, four are confirmed to be Iranian nationals. Authorities are still working to verify the identity and nationality of the fifth suspect. All five men remain in police custody for questioning and have yet to be formally charged as investigations continue. Searches are ongoing at several addresses in London, Manchester, and Swindon.
The planned attack reportedly targeted a specific site, the details of which are currently being withheld by authorities for ‘operational reasons’. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, revealed that investigators are still trying to uncover the motivation behind the suspected plot and assess any potential ongoing threats to public safety.
In an unrelated case, three other Iranian men aged 39, 44, and 55, were arrested in London as part of a separate investigation into a possible breach of national security.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of vigilance in the face of evolving security threats. She remarked, “These are serious events that underscore the continuous need to adapt our response to national security challenges.” Cooper assured that the government is collaborating with police and intelligence agencies to ensure necessary security measures are in place.
While no direct connection to Iran has been established in this main investigation, MI5, the domestic security agency, has previously flagged rising threats from individuals or operations linked to Tehran. Last October, MI5 Chief Ken McCallum disclosed that since 2022, security services have thwarted 20 potentially lethal plots associated with Iran, many targeting dissidents residing in the UK.
McCallum also warned of the potential for increased hostile actions from Iran in the UK, particularly amid rising Middle Eastern tensions. In March 2024, Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for a Persian-language channel critical of the Iranian regime, was stabbed outside his London home. Two suspects in the incident were later apprehended in Romania.
The UK’s current national threat level for terrorism remains at ‘substantial’, indicating that an attack is deemed likely.
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