Five men arrested after Counter Terrorism Police uncover suspected plot

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act after police uncovered a suspected plot to target a single premises.

Counter Terrorism Police have been in contact with the site to make them aware and to provide relevant advice and support but it has not been identified for operational reasons, police said.

Four of the men arrested on Saturday, May 3 are Iranian nationals and the nationality of the fifth is still being established.

The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the proactive investigation which resulted in the pre-planned arrests of: a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area; a fifth man in the Manchester area.

All five men were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2006. They remain in custody.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who is head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.

“The investigation is still in its early stages, and we are exploring various lines of inquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.

“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”

He added: “We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”

Officers are carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation.

The arrests and searches are being supported by officers from Greater Manchester Police and Wiltshire Police, as well as colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing from across the country.

The four Iranian nationals have been detained under the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2006.

The fifth man was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).

Published: 04/05/2025 by Radio NewsHub