Don’t touch me, shot
Raids and arrests in capital foiled two active terror plots, says Yard Intelligence-led policing does bring results
POLICE and security agencies foiled two suspected “active terror plots” within hours in a series of dramatic raids and arrests across London.
Armed officers shot a 21-year-old woman and fired CS gas rounds when they stormed a terraced house in Willesden last night.
Six people, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested in an “ongoing” inquiry to foil a suspected terror network allegedly actively engaged in planning an atrocity.
Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said there had been two “separate unconnected and ongoing counter-terrorism investigations” in an “extraordinary 24 hours”.
In dramatic scenes in Willesden, witnesses reported hearing screaming and shots as armed police in gas masks burst into the address.
A mother-of-one said: “We were just about to go shopping when we heard ‘bang, bang, bang, bang’. We went to the window and saw a number of armed police there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbour’s window.”
The raid came hours after armed police swooped on a man carrying a rucksack of knives in Whitehall, a stone’s throw from Downing Street and yards from the scene of last month’s deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster.
The 27-year-old man from south-east London was stopped in the street by armed police just before 2.20pm. At least three knive s were seen on the THE events of the past 24 hours will inevitably heighten concerns about the extremist threat to this country, coming only weeks after the Westminster attack which claimed the lives of Pc Keith Palmer and four others.
But disturbing though the latest incidents in Whitehall and Willesden are, they provide some grounds for reassurance. Most important is that Scotland Yard has described the latest arrests as being the result of “intelligence-led” operations. That means police and MI5 were aware of the potential threat posed by the suspects before deciding to intervene.
Of course, it appears alarming that a man seemingly in possession of three large knives could be on the streets, particularly in such a high-profile location as Westminster. But all the indications are that the search that led to his ground as he was being handcuffed by officers. Security sources said the arrest came after a tip-off from the man’s family, who had raised concerns about his behaviour.
The man, who was born overseas, had been under close surveillance and a team of MI5 and undercover officers tailed him as he took the Tube from his home in south-east London to St James’s Park.
He walked towards Westminster and had turned into Whitehall heading towards Downing Street when the decision was taken to intercept him. It is believed he had been “allowed to run” in order to collect as much evidence as possible on any plot and to identify any possible collaborators.
However, at this stage, officials believe he was acting alone.
As the arrest was taking place, counter-terrorism officers were watching an address in Willesden as part of a separate intelligence-led operation against a suspected terror network.
Firearms officers equipped with semiautomatic carbines and CS gas stormed the house just before 7pm and residents reported hearing up to six shots.
A woman, described as wearing a hijab, was carried out of the house and given first aid before being taken to hospital, where she remains under police guard in a serious but stable condition.
Four people, including a boy aged 16, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. The first, a 20-year-old man, was detained near the address and another woman and the boy were held at the house. A 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent a short while later.
Two further arrests were made when a man and a woman, both aged 28, returned arrest was planned. Sometimes, too, it is necessary for police to delay an arrest — almost to the last minute — to discover more about a plot and others potentially involved or to ensure they have enough evidence for a conviction.
There are also indications that a public tip-off might have helped police in the case of the Westminster arrest. If that turns out to be true it will be a welcome sign that the community co-operation police have appealed for is being provided.
Inevitably, it’s not always the case, but such intelligence gathering is generally excellent — and one of this country’s greatest strengths. It has led to many other arrests in far less dramatic circumstances, even though those detained have turned out to be plotting highly dangerous attacks.
Another reassurance is that the two incidents yesterday were not linked and seemingly not part of a large complex plot. On the other hand, the new, simpler style of attack, encour- to the Willesden address later last night. Today a series of bullet holes could be seen in an upstairs window at the property.
Witness Ruth Haile described how the woman who was shot was on the ground shouting at medics and police: “Don’t touch me, don’t touch me,” as they tried to treat her. Ms Haile said: aged by Islamic State, can be harder to prevent.
The timescale between an extremist deciding to act and attempting to carry out murder can be far shorter than was typical in previous years, when complicated targeting — often requiring the acquisition of explosives — gave police and spies more chance to discover and intercept a plot.
It’s also a fact that while finding firearms can be hard enough, there is no way to stop a man acquiring a knife of the sort seen lying in the street in Westminster yesterday.
The other troubling reality is that the recent spate of attacks — which has seen killings in Paris, Stockholm and London — might encourage extremists to act. Scotland Yard today described yesterday’s events as “extraordinary”. All London will hope there are no more days ahead that merit that description. @martinbentham