Fifth Arrest In Suspected Terror Plot

10 October 2014, 11:26 | Updated: 10 October 2014, 11:28

The Metropolitan Police have revealed a fifth man has been arrested in connection with a suspected terrorism plot on the UK.

His arrest came hours after four other men were detained by police on Tuesday (7 October) in a number of raids in west and central London but details could not be released at the time "for operational reasons".

All have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act.

Officers have been granted a custody extension until next Tuesday to question the men, all aged between 20 and 21.

Counter-terror officers believe the raids were an "early disruption" of what could have turned into a "significant plot".

Police said at least one of the suspects is believed to have travelled to Syria and one line of inquiry is to establish any possible links with Islamic State (IS), the extremist group behind the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.

A number of addresses and vehicles have been searched by specialist officers as part of the investigation.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It is one of a series of arrests that we have had over the last few weeks which, taken together, for me confirm that the drumbeat around terrorism has changed.