Police get extra week to question four terror suspects over ‘Iranian plot to attack Israeli embassy’

Counter-terrorism officers have been given more time to question four Iranian suspects over an alleged plot to attack the Israeli embassy in London.

Police officers arrested five men on May 3 on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act as part of a national pre-planned operation.

Four of the men were detained under the Terrorism Act over the apparent plot to target the embassy in Kensington, west London.

The fifth man was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and has since been released on conditional bail.

The men were due to be released today but police have now been granted an extra week to question them. 

Officers arrested a 29-year-old man in Swindon, a 46-year-old man in west London, a 29-year-old man in Stockport and a 40-year-old man in Rochester.

The fifth man was a 24-year-old man detained in Manchester.

Police are continuing to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas. 

Pictures of the raid in Rochdale show three officers dressed in black and two other men dressed in camo gear escorting one of the suspects out of a property.

Counter terrorism specialist firearms officers, thought to be dressed in black and grey tactical gear, are seen detaining a suspect in Rochdale last Saturday

Pictured are a group of Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers outside a home in Rochdale during another raid last Saturday 

Police and MI5 foiled a suspected plot by Iranian terrorists to carry out a major attack – and detained a man in Swindon (pictured)

Undercover police officers were also pictured swooping on a suspected Iranian terrorist in Swindon on Saturday after posing as customers in a café. The officers were then seen dragging the suspect through the street towards a police van.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: ‘Our officers and staff continue to progress what is a significant and highly complex investigation. We are working incredibly hard with public safety at the forefront of our ongoing efforts.

‘I would like to ask people to not speculate or share information that has not been confirmed by Counter Terrorism Policing. We have clear and critical reasons for not providing further details at this time. As soon as we can, we will look to share further information with the public.

‘As always, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.

‘We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we made arrests on last Saturday and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.’

Three other men, also Iranians, were arrested on the same day under counter-terror legislation in relation to a separate case. 

Security reviews have been commissioned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the wake of the plot.

The alleged terror cell were said to be planning an ‘imminent’ attack that could have lost in significant loss of life. 

Police in Rochdale following the counter terrorism raid last weekend 

The Israeli embassy in London, which was believed to be the target of a group of suspected Iranian terrorists

A window in the property in Rochdale that was raided appears to have been smashed. Locals reportedly heard a series of loud explosions before the suspects were detained 

Members of the SAS are suspected to have supported counter terrorism police during an operation to bust an alleged terror cell on Rochdale last weekend 

Officers are seen detaining one suspect while another officer covers the window of a building

Asked about the possibility of Iranian state involvement in the planned attack, Home Secretary Ms Cooper said: ‘These are major operations and the ongoing investigation is immensely important, and, of course, it involves Iranian nationals in both investigations.

‘But this reflects the complexity of the kinds of challenges to our national security we continue to face.’

Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs: ‘The investigation relates to a suspected plot to target specific premises. Police officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant security advice and support.

‘Investigators refused to provide further detail last night about the nature of the attack planned, which is likely to have been state-sponsored.’

Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks on Israeli embassies across Europe in the last year.

Sweden’s security service Sapo suggested Iran was involved in two attacks in October when shots were fired at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, days before two explosions were reported near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen.

Fredrik Hallstrom, of Sapo, said the targets and methods pointed in the direction of Iran.

Months earlier, gunshots were fired around the Stockholm embassy, which Mossad blamed on a crime group directed by Iran.

The Israeli spy agency also said an organized crime ring in Sweden working on Iran’s behest was behind an explosive device found inside the grounds of the same embassy in January.

Last year Mossad claimed Iranian-backed criminals were behind an attack on Israel’s embassy in Belgium when two airsoft grenades were thrown at the building in May.

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