THE Israeli embassy was the target of an Iranian terror plot that was foiled at the last minute, according to reports.
Police launched a major counter-terrorism operation last week and made arrests across the country.
Getty Images – GettyThe Israeli Embassy in west London was reportedly the target of an Iranian terror plot[/caption]
MEN MEDIAHeavily-armed police led a shirtless man away from the Rochdale house[/caption]
Plain-clothed cops swooped on a suspect in Swindon town centre
Police arrested five men, including four Iranians, and said they had identified a “specific” target – but would not reveal where it was.
Now, a report in The Times suggests the target was the Israeli embassy in west London.
The suspects were seized in Swindon, west London, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester last Saturday.
It was reported that one of the suspects had “close links” to the Iranian regime – and police were reportedly joined by elite SAS soldiers to make the arrests.
The Metropolitan police obtained warrants to hold four of the men aged between 29 and 46, arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, until Saturday [10th] for further questioning.
A 24-year-old man, who was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in Manchester, has now been released on bail, with conditions, to a date in May.
The arrests were understood to be an “urgent” operation with cops acting quickly to halt any would-be attack, sources told The Sun.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Sunday night: “These were two major operations that reflect some of the biggest counter-state threats and counter terrorism operations that we have seen in recent years.”
She also thanked the police and security forces for “the action they have taken to keep our country safe”.
Footage emerged of armed counter terrorism officers swooping on a house in Rochdale, Manchester, and later leading out a shirtless man.
Photos from the Swindon end of the operation showed Met Police officers piling onto a a suspect outside a Costa in the town centre.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have risen since the start of the war in Gaza – threatening to boil over at certain crunch points.
Israel has weakened Iran’s “axis of resistance” by eroding its influence in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.
There has been direct conflict between the Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthis, with the sides exchanging missiles and fierce words only this week.
The Sun contacted the Israeli embassy for comment.
MEN MediaA window was smashed at the Rochdale address[/caption]
SWNSThe front door of the Rochdale house was broken in two by counter-terrorism police[/caption]
Three more Iranian men were arrested in London in a separate but simultaneous operation over concerns they would flee the country or destroy key evidence.
Two men aged 39 and 44 were arrested at separate north-west London addresses, and a 55-year-old nabbed from a west London property.
The London trio were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 and remain in custody, a police statement said.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Our officers and staff are progressing what is a significant and highly complex investigation, and we still have searches and activity underway at multiple addresses across the country.
“We are working incredibly hard, with public safety at the forefront of our ongoing efforts.
“We believe that a specific premises was the target of this suspected plot and Counter Terrorism Policing officers remain in close contact with the affected premises.
“At this time, we will not be providing further information about the suspected target for reasons of operational security and public safety.
“I would like to ask people to support my officers in this and not to speculate or share information that has not been confirmed by Counter Terrorism Policing. We have clear and critical reasons not to provide more detail at this time.
“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
“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 Saturday and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
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