Posted on 01/31/2007 1:20:48 AM PST by leadpenny
Police raids target 'terror plot'
The raids took place at 0400 GMT on Wednesday morning Eight people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Birmingham after a "significant" operation involving police and security service MI5.
A number of addresses in the city have been sealed off after morning raids.
Security sources have told the BBC the alleged plot would not have involved mass casualties but marked "a different approach to terrorism in the UK".
The six-month operation involved the Midlands counter terrorism unit, West Midlands Police and the Met Police.
At least four addresses in Birmingham were targeted as part of the 0400 GMT raids.
Two residential houses and a general store in the Alum Rock area were raided as well as a book store in the Sparkhill area.
Police have cordoned off roads around Jackson Road and Foxton Road, in Alum Rock, and Poplar Road and Stratford Road, in Sparkhill.
Police have not confirmed any of the raided addresses.
Public co-operation
The eight are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".
The Home Office said Home Secretary John Reid had been fully briefed.
"This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face," a spokeswoman said.
In a statement, West Midlands Police asked for the "continued support and co-operation of the public".
"Our message to people living in the West Midlands is to remain vigilant," the statement added.
The raided houses are now being searched by officers.
Those pesky Methodists again....
British police arrest 8 in anti-terrorism raids By Michael Holden
38 minutes ago
LONDON (Reuters) - British police carried out a major nationwide anti-terrorism operation on Wednesday, arresting eight people in a series of dawn raids which media reports said had thwarted a significant planned attack.
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Detectives said the people were arrested at addresses across the city of Birmingham on "suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism."
A number of streets were sealed off in Birmingham, Britain's second largest city and one of its most ethnically diverse, with a large Muslim population.
"As a precautionary measure we will have an enhanced police presence at these locations," West Midlands police said in a statement which added there was no "specific threat" to the local area.
Security services believe a terrorist attack is highly likely in Britain and the country is on its second highest alert level.
Last year the head of MI5, Britain's domestic spy service, warned that about 30 terrorism plots were being worked on and agents were monitoring around 1,600 suspects.
The government issued a statement saying the arrests were part of a nationwide operation. "We can confirm that a major counter-terrorism operation took place earlier today led by West Midlands Police," the Home Office said.
"This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face," it added.
Sky Television, citing unnamed sources, said police had stopped a major terrorist plot which was in the latter stages of planning or was near fruition.
A police source told Reuters the suspected plot would not have caused mass casualties but would have involved a new terrorism tactic.
"It wasn't a mass Tube (underground train) or plane-type thing," the source said.
On July 7, 2005, Britain suffered its worst peacetime attack by militants when four British Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people on London's transport system.
In August last year, detectives said they had foiled a suspected plot to blow up transatlantic airliners bound for the United States using liquid explosives.
I searched on my title and didn't see that this was already posted. Please delete mine:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776609/posts
UK: Eight arrested after terror raids ~ Brits getting serious...
Apparently they were planning to kidnap somebody offf of the street and execute them on video, of course not before releasing videos and holding the nation hostage.
HERE IN BRITAIN!
Quite shocking.
It could for example have been an MP for all we know, they have no security and are certainly 'easy to find'.
Thank goodness for the police and counter agencies.
The terrorists have the initiative and imagination.
It will be interesting to find out (hopefully years in the future) how authorities uncovered the plot.
MSNBC showing video clips of the neighborhood and Charles McCord at the beginning of the Imus program reported pretty much what is known so far.
It would be even more interesting to start the same strategy with them.
Turnabout is fair play.
Not if the 30-06 bullet is dipped in bacon grease first.
We should advertise that all of our bullets are manufatured by Jimmy Dean and Bob Evans.
Torture isn't so romantic when you watch (and listen to) someone else go through it first. Where is Section One when you need it?
I watched the special on Fox News last Saturday called "The Enemy Within" about muzzies in the UK. They openly preach hate and the destruction of England right out in the open in the middle of the streets while the police look on and do nothing. They interviewd a white 30 year old male who said that if whites were to do the same thing against muzzies, that they would be immediatley arrested for inciting racial hatred. It's time for the Brits to take the law into their own hands before it is too late. The brits let these bastards into their country and now they want to impose sharia law and take over England. Tolerance and muticulturalism in white western European countries seem to have been insanely contorted into a muzzie/illegal alien death wish while native born Americans and Europeans do very little to stop the destruction of their own cultures and countries.
I didn't see that program but I think we're going to see mushroom clouds before it's all given up to the scourge of radical Islam.
McCord has led off each hour this morning talking about the plot. He just touched on what you said and he also just read a report that says the leader is a British Muslim soldier.
The story is updated at the original link or here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6315989.stm
BBC has added maps of the area.
Anymore good reasons for being armed and very vigilant? It would not have to be anyone of the importance of an MP to cause fear among the populace. One plain old citizen would be sufficient.
If we're lucky they'll grab Galloway.
MSNBC showing a bank of microphones at an empty table. News conference shortly, I suspect?
Not really. Only the public statements would state that. The individuals are attracted to terrorist acts because it seems nice. Take out the attractiveness and not so many are eager anymore.
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