Man arrested as part of counter-terror op
A MAN has been arrested in Leicestershire as part of a counterterrorism operation led by the Metropolitan Police.
The 32-year-old suspect was detained at an address in the county on Thursday.
The force, which co-ordinates the UK’s national anti-terror investigations, would not divulge details of the area in which the arrest was made.
The man is one of four people arrested by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
A statement issued by New Scotland Yard said the men were all arrested on suspicion of being “concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”.
Four addresses were searched as part of the investigation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, supported by East Midlands Counter Terrorism Policing have today, July 9, arrested four men as part of a proactive investigation.
“A 27-year-old man [A] was arrested at an address in east London; a 31-year-old [B] and 17-year-old [C] were arrested at another address in east London; and a 32-year-old man [D] was arrested at an address in Leicestershire.
“The arrests in east London were carried out with the support of armed officers. No shots were fired, although one of the men [A] was bitten on the foot by a police dog during the course of his arrest and was taken to hospital.
“His injuries are not believed to be serious.
“Officers from East Midlands Counter Terrorism Policing and Leicestershire Police also assisted in the arrest in Leicestershire.
“No armed officers were present for that arrest. Officers are searching the three addresses, and a search is also under way at a fourth address in east London as part of the investigation.”
All four men were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2000 and “remain in police custody at this time”.
Neither the Met, nor Leicestershire Police, would provide any further information about the operation.