Met police arrest five suspects on suspicion of organising terror offences

From the Express, ITV News and the Manchester Evening News. 

In a joint nationwide operation, forced from the Counter Terrorism Command, Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) unit and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) CTP arrested the five men today. According to the police, the five men were arrested on Monday morning at addresses in north London, Manchester and Peterborough. 

In a statement from the Met Police they said: “A 21-year-old man [A] was arrested in Manchester on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism under Section 40(1)(b) Terrorism Act (TACT) 2000.

“A 19-year-old man [B] was arrested in Peterborough and two men [D – 23yrs; E – 22yrs] were arrested in north London on suspicion of the same offence.

“A 19-year-old man [C] was also arrested in Peterborough on suspicion of encouraging terrorism, under section 1 of TACT 2000. This arrest was made under PACE.”

The police also stated the arrested were not made into a supposed threat on New Year’s Eve. 

The Express says :- the operation was made in relation to the attack on Fishmongers’ Hall in London last month.  ITV News and the MEN say the opposite :– The raids in Manchester, Peterborough and north London were part of a pre-planned operation and were not linked to either the London Bridge terror attack last month or New Year’s Eve, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers continue to search addresses in each area. The force added there is not believed to be any imminent threat to the public.

On Saturday another man was arrested and taken into custody in East London – no suggestion (yet) of any connections. From the Waltham Forest Guardian

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested the man on Saturday, December 28 in east London for terrorism offences. He was arrested at a residential address in east London on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism under Section 40 (1) (b) Terrorism Act 2000.

He was detained and taken to a south London police station. He remains in police custody and under terror laws can be held until January 4.

As part of the investigation, officers are also carrying out a search at the east London address.