The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Terror suspect arrested in
Police: Ex-pal tells of radicalisation
A terror suspect arrested in Whitehall on Thursday has been named as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali.
The 27-year-old is believed to be a British national who was born overseas and went to school in Tottenham, north London.
In a separate operation, an active terror plot was foiled after police launched an armed raid in north London in which a woman was shot and injured.
Ali was detained by armed officers after a stop and search as part of an “intelligence-led” operation. He remains in custody, having been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act and possession of offensive weapons.
Police recovered knives during the swoop, which took place yards from the scene of last month’s deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster.
Reports suggest the suspect was arrested after a concerned family member contacted authorities.
A man who claimed to be a schoolfriend of Ali said the suspect's attitude “started to change” after he became more devout as a teenager. Actor Markaiu Mason, who lost touch with Ali in 2008, said his “heart sank” when he recognised the 27-year-old’s face in pictures of his arrest.
He said the two would often have “heated discussions” about religion and that Ali started “preaching more” from the age of 15.
He added: “My heart sank because he was a really great friend and an amazing person at school and to be connected with something like this really did break my heart personally.”
Meanwhile, six people were in custody after a team of specialist firearms officers stormed an address in Willesden, north London, on Thursday night.
A woman in her 20s, shot during the swoop, remains under police guard in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Armed officers carried out a “specialist entry” into a terraced property in Harlesden Road shortly before 7pm. Police fired CS gas into the address, which had been under observation as part of a current terrorism operation.
Neighbours heard “at least six” shots and screaming as police entered the address.
Giving an update on the two operations, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said yesterday: “Due to these arrests I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed.”
Mr Basu said an armed entry was necessary in Willesden “due to the nature of the intelligence that we were dealing with”.
He said: “During the course of that operation, one of the subjects of that operation was shot by police. Her condition is serious but stable. Because of her condition she has not yet been arrested.”
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed, as is routine for police shootings.
A total of six people were arrested in connection with the raid, including five at or near the address in north London and one in Kent.
Two of the arrests were made when a man and a woman, both aged 28, returned to the address later that night, Mr Basu said. Searches are continuing at three London addresses.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “I would like to reinforce my gratitude to the police and security services, who work tirelessly to keep the people of country safe.”
She added that the role of the public “continues to be crucial in identifying suspicious activity”.
Meanwhile in a separate raid yesterday, a 47-year-old woman was arrested at an east London address on suspicion of conspiring to fund and support terrorism.
The arrest was not linked to Thursday’s arrests in London. this
“My heart sank as he was a really great friend”