Police Round Up Suspects
LONDON (Reuters) - Police arrested eight people in a series of dawn raids in Birmingham on Wednesday as part of a major counter-terrorism operation, police said.
Detectives said the people were arrested at addresses across the city on "suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".
"As a precautionary measure we will have an enhanced police presence at these locations," West Midlands police said in a statement.
The government said 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 in a statement.
"The Home Secretary was fully briefed on the operation and is receiving regular updates as developments occur.
"This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face."
Britain is on its second-highest threat level of "severe" which indicates that security services believe a terrorist attack is highly likely.
Last year the head of MI5 warned that about 30 terrorism plots were being worked on and agents were monitoring around 1,600 suspects.
Source: Reuters UK
