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Arrests of terror suspects in UK
A man suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda has been arrested in Gloucester under the Terrorism Act. Homes in the Barton Street area of the city were evacuated on Thursday after the 24-year-old man was arrested. Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldnât have taken these steps if we didnât believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country." The Gloucester arrestâs quite possibly preempting a planned al Qaeda attack on neighbouring Cheltenhamâs UK communications intelligence headquarters, GCHQ. In a separate investigation, a 39-year-old man was arrested in Manchester under the Terrorism Act. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said two addresses in Blackburn, Lancashire, were also being searched. Scotland Yard said officers were carrying out a search for explosives at three properties in Gloucester and Blackburn. Detective chief constable of Gloucester police, Martin Baker, said the army was involved in the search. He told a press conference on Thursday that the safety of the public and staff involved was "paramount". Mr Blunkett said of the Gloucester raid: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. "Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I donât want to in any way damage the future trial." A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved. The Gloucester man - whom police said was "British and of Asian origin" - has been taken to a police station in neighbouring Wiltshire for questioning. Officers evacuated 119 homes and moved people from the area around his home because of fears explosives may be involved. A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: "The man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terror. Searches are ongoing and the immediate area has been evacuated, as there may be explosives on the premises." Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of the city have been closed, and people living in the area have been moved to the cityâs new leisure centre. Local resident Stephen Baker, who lives in Barton Street, said: "The police have told us that itâs a bomb scare somewhere near the St James Street and Upton Street area. "We can leave the house, but no one is being allowed close to those two streets." Posted by: Bulldog 2003-11-27 |
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