Britain: Several Iranians arrested under suspicion that they were planning a terrorist attack

British counterterrorism officials have arrested several Iranians, under suspicion of planning to attack an unidentified target in London, police said.

British police said that five men, aged 29 to 46, were arrested Saturday in some areas of England under suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

Four of those arrested are Iranian citizens, while the nationality of the fifth person has not yet been determined.

Three other Iranian men were arrested in London under suspicion of criminal acts involving national security. They were arrested as part of a separate investigation, British police said.

All suspects are being questioned and no charges have been filed against them yet.

Authorities said they would not identify the alleged target of this plot “for operational reasons”.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Antiterrorism Command, said police are still working to determine the “motive and to identify whether there may be any other danger to the public”.

Secretary of Internal Affairs Yvette Cooper said the arrests were <x0 ..." important events showing the continued demand to adapt our response to threats to national security”.

The government continues to work with police and intelligence agencies to support all security actions and estimates that are necessary to keep the country secure”, she said.

In October last year, British security service head MI5, Ken McCallum, declared that his agents and police had handled 20 “potentially lethal” supported by Iran since 2022, most of which were targeted Iranians in the United Kingdom who oppose authorities in their country. / REL//Periscopi/