Brothers arrested for ‘plotting Paris-style massacre in Britain’
COUNTER-terrorism police arrested two brothers suspected of plotting to bring a Paris- style massacre to the streets of Britain yesterday.
The pair, aged 19 and 20, were held in a dawn raid at their West London home after a massive undercover security operation. They are suspected of trying to get automatic weapons and bomb-making chemicals to stage their own Islamic State-inspired atrocity.
Security sources described the alleged conspiracy as ‘significant’, with evidence the men may have been considering multiple targets. One line of inquiry is they may have planned simultaneous copycat suicide missions like those seen in the French capital. Officials said the suspects are not ‘lone wolves’ but are instead believed to have joined forces after being inspired by violent Islamist material online.
A third man, aged 19, who is connected to the brothers and originally from Mosul in Iraq, was arrested on suspicion of a religiously aggravated offence.
UK police chiefs have becoming increasingly nervous as terrorists left hundreds dead in attacks across France and in Brussels and Germany. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned it is
‘Started wearing religious dress’
a case of ‘when, not if’ the UK will be hit by IS-inspired terrorists.
Officers arrested the two brothers in a raid on their West London home yesterday morning.
The 19-year- old, believed to be the alleged ringleader, was held on suspicion of preparing for an act of terrorism. His older brother was arrested on suspicion of funding terrorism and failing to disclose information regarding an act of terrorism. He was also detained on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.
Officials said dozens of officers were searching a number of addresses and vehicles across London and the Thames Valley area. Sources said no weapons or bombmaking materials were recovered.
The third man, named locally as Ali Esayed, was arrested at the three-storey terraced house he shares with his parents and sisters in Kennington, SouthEast London. Neighbours said the suspect, who travelled to the UK with his family in 2007, began wearing traditional Islamic clothing in recent years.
Neighbours described being woken shortly after 5.30am by the sound of the front door being kicked down.
Describing the man who was arrested, one said: ‘In the last couple of years he had grown a beard and started wearing long religious dress.
‘He used to dress like a normal teenager, but he just changed. They seemed like an all right family. They didn’t speak much English, but were friendly and always said hello.’
Four years ago, when he was 15, Ali Esayed was among four pupils at Walworth Academy who won a Design Museum prize for creating a new version of tiddlywinks.
There is speculation that the group were inspired by hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who was jailed for five-anda-half years earlier this week. There has been concern his supporters might try to mount some sort attack in revenge for the cleric’s conviction. But sources said the arrests followed a ‘long-term’ surveillance operation which preceded his Old Bailey trial.
West Midlands counter-terrorism officers last night charged four men with terrorism offences, who will appear before magistrates today.