12 Men Arrested In Anti-Terrorism Raids In Britain : NPR
British police swooped down on three cities in predawn raids Monday and arrested a dozen men in connection with a suspected plot against U.K. targets — the most high-profile terrorism raids in Britain in more than a year and a half.
Assistant commissioner John Yates, Britain’s senior counterterrorism police officer, said the suspects were detained in London, in the central English city of Stoke-on-Trent and in Cardiff, Wales.
“The operation is in its early stages so we are unable to go into detail at this time about the suspected offenses,” Yates said in a statement. “However, I believe it was necessary at this time to take action in order to ensure public safety.”
The suspects, ages 17 to 28, were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. Police said 11 of the suspects were arrested at or close to their homes at around 5 a.m., while the remaining man was detained at a property in the central English city of Birmingham.