UK police arrest several Iranian men over alleged attack plot

LONDON — British counterterrorism officers have apprehended multiple Iranian individuals for an alleged scheme to target a specific location in London, as stated by the Metropolitan Police force on Sunday.

Law enforcement officials disclosed that five men, ranging from 29 to 46 years old, were arrested on Saturday in different regions of England on suspicion of orchestrating a terrorist plot.

Among the detainees, four are Iranian nationals, while the nationality of the fifth individual is still under investigation.

Additionally, three other Iranian men were taken into custody in London for a national security offense as part of a separate inquiry, according to the police.

All suspects are currently undergoing interrogation at police facilities and have not yet been formally charged.

The intended target of the purported plot has not been disclosed by the authorities “for operational reasons,” as per the police statement.

Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Counter Terrorism Command, mentioned that efforts are ongoing to determine the motive behind the plot and assess any potential risks to public safety.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented on the arrests, labeling them as “serious events” that underscore the continuous need to adapt national security responses.

She emphasized the government’s collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to ensure the nation’s safety through necessary actions and security evaluations.

In a previous statement in October, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5 domestic security service in Britain, revealed that his agency, along with the police, has thwarted 20 “potentially lethal” plots linked to Iran since 2022. These plots primarily targeted Iranians in the U.K. who oppose the Iranian regime.