Iranian terror suspect ‘has close links to regime’ after UK attack is foiled when it was just ‘hours away’
AN Iranian terror suspect who was arrested in the UK is reported to have “close connections” to the regime in Tehran.
Five men, who are all Iranian nationals, were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of plotting a terror attack on a “specific” UK target in one of the largest counter-terrorism operations for years.
The suspects were seized in Swindon, west London, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester.
They include two aged 29, one aged 24, one aged 40 and one aged 46 .
Now, Iranian sources in the UK have claimed that at least one of the men has close links to the government in Tehran, according to The Telegraph.
Sources told the outlet that the terror suspect is “very well connected” and his family runs prominent businesses in Iran.
The alleged use of Iranian nationals in an overseas terror plot would represent a possible change in approach from Tehran.
Met Police cops said the five suspects arrested in relation to the “imminent” plot were being held on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism.
Scotland Yard confirmed today that officers had been granted more time to continue questioning four of the men.
They were originally detained under the Terrorism Act.
The fifth man, aged 24, was detained in Manchester under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
However, he has been released on bail to a date later this month, but with conditions restricting his freedoms.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Our officers and staff are progressing what is a significant and highly complex investigation, and we still have searches and activity underway at multiple addresses across the country.
“We are working incredibly hard, with public safety at the forefront of our ongoing efforts.
“We believe that a specific premises was the target of this suspected plot and Counter Terrorism Policing officers remain in close contact with the affected premises.
“At this time, we will not be providing further information about the suspected target for reasons of operational security and public safety.
“I would like to ask people to support my officers in this and not to speculate or share information that has not been confirmed by Counter Terrorism Policing. We have clear and critical reasons not to provide more detail at this time.
“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
“As always, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.
“We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we made arrests on Saturday and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
Police said they had identified the site they believe the men were plotting against, and it had been informed, but did not reveal it for security reasons.
Dramatic footage of the arrests on Sunday night show geared up counter-terrorism police swooping on a house in Rochdale wielding semi-automatic weapons.
Later clips show them frogmarching a topless man away from the premises.
The street remained cordoned-off on Sunday with forensic officers scouring the property, which had a smashed window and the front door broken in two.
Photos from the Swindon end of the operation show Met Police officers piling onto a a suspect outside a Costa in the town centre.
Plain-clothed cops could be seen searching the man as he lay on his back, with a crowd of shocked locals watching on from a distance.
Three other Iranian men were arrested in London as part of a separate but simultaneous operation over concerns they would flee the country or destroy key evidence.
In the second operation, two men aged 39 and 44 were arrested at separate north-west London addresses, and a 55-year-old nabbed from a west London property.
The London trio were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, said cops.