UK arrest five in counter-terror operation

By Michael Sercan Daventry

LONDON

British police have arrested five people on suspicion of terrorism as part of an investigation involving Belgian and French authorities.

Three men aged between 26 and 59 and a 29-year-old woman were arrested in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, on Thursday night.

Another man, aged 26, was arrested in London’s Gatwick Airport early on Friday morning.

Marcus Beale, the chief counter terrorism officer in the West Midlands area of England, said a number of properties in Birmingham were being searched as part of the investigation.

He said in a statement: “This action forms part of an extensive investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU), together with the wider counter terrorism network, MI5 and international partners including Belgian and French authorities to address any associated threat to the U.K. following the attacks in Europe.

“The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no risk to the public at any time and there is no information to suggest an attack in the U.K. was being planned.”

The statement added all five people were being questioned by WMCTU officers.