Anti-terrorist police are believed to have smashed a radical Muslim cell operating in West Yorkshire – home of the July 7 suicide bombers. Details emerged today of arrests by the Metropolitan Police Anti Terrorist Squad at a university halls of residence in Bradford. The arrests came just three days after a man walked into a central London police station to be arrested under the Terrorism Act. Police confirmed today that Anti-Terrorist branch officers, assisted by West Yorkshire Police, swooped on a hall of residence behind Bradford University and arrested three men aged 18 and 19 late last Thursday.The three were taken to London, where they were being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. A fourth man, aged 19, was arrested nearby, early last Friday. He was today still being held in West Yorkshire. It is understood the men were arrested after concerns were raised about a group expressing extremist Muslim views. Those arrested are all understood to be British-born students from Pakistani families. They are not believed to originate from West Yorkshire. Officers seized a number of computers during the raids. Unconfirmed reports suggested one man had run up a bill of £10,000 by buying "specialist equipment" off the internet.
Scotland Yard said in a statement today: "The arrests are in connection with an investigation separate from the continuing inquiries into the events in London during July 2005." A spokeswoman added: "Three men – two men aged 18 and one aged 19 – were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000. "They are in custody at central London police stations. A fourth man aged 19 was arrested later nearby in the Bradford area and is in custody in West Yorkshire. He is also being questioned on suspicion of the same offences." Scotland Yard said the arrests followed the arrest of an 18-year-old man from east London who voluntarily attended a central London police station by appointment last Monday.
The teenager was then arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.