UK arrests 4 in alleged Islamist terrorism plot investigation

PanARMENIAN.Net - Police investigating an alleged Islamist terrorism plot targeting the UK have arrested four men. Counter-terrorism police detained the men in west London and High Wycombe, BBC News reports.

The men, aged between 19 and 27, were all taken to police stations in central London after their arrests overnight and remain in custody.

Police said one of the men was arrested in a car in a street in Southall, with armed officers assisting, but no shots were fired.

There is no current indication of a link to Syria or the activities of jihadist group Islamic State, the BBC said.

They were all held on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The Metropolitan Police said a number of homes in Hounslow, High Wycombe, Uxbridge, Southall, Greenford and Hayes were being searched by specialist officers as part of the investigation.

In a statement, the force said the arrests and searches were "part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist related terrorism".

Officers from the Met's SO15 counter terrorism command are working with the south-east counter-terrorism unit and MI5. The arrests come after the UK national terror threat level was raised from "substantial" to "severe" in August. This means a terrorist attack is considered "highly likely".