British counter-terrorism officers have arrested five men including four Iranian nationals — in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist act, according to a statement released on Sunday by London’s Metropolitan Police.
The arrests were made during coordinated raids across multiple locations on Saturday, including Greater Manchester, London, and the southern town of Swindon.
Authorities say the case involves a suspected plan to target a specific, unnamed location. “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
While details remain limited, police confirmed that the four Iranian nationals, aged between 29 and 46, were detained under the UK’s Terrorism Act. The fifth suspect, whose nationality has yet to be determined, was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. All five remain in custody as investigations continue.
“We are still in the early stages of the investigation and are exploring multiple lines of inquiry to understand the suspects’ potential motives and assess whether there is any further risk to the public,” Murphy added.
Authorities released further details of the arrests:
A 29-year-old man was arrested in the Swindon area, a 46-year-old man was arrested in west London, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Stockport, a 40-year-old man was arrested in Rochdale, and one man, with age yet to be confirmed, was arrested in Manchester.
