Members of the British police counter-terrorism unit have arrested several Iranians over an alleged plot to attack a target in London, police said today.
Police said five men aged between 29 and 46 were arrested yesterday in different parts of England on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Four are Iranian citizens, and the citizenship of the fifth person detained is still being determined.
Three other Iranians, aged 39, 44 and 55, were arrested in London on suspicion of committing a national security offence as part of a separate investigation, police said.
All suspects are being questioned at police stations and have not yet been charged.
Police said they were searching several apartments in London, Manchester in the northwest and Swindon, in western England.
According to police, the attack was planned for a single location, which they did not want to reveal for "operational reasons."
The head of the police's Counter-Terrorism Command, Dominic Murphy, said police were still working to determine the motive, as well as whether there was any further risk to the public.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government continues to work with police and intelligence agencies to support all actions and security assessments needed to maintain the country's security.
The official terrorism threat level in the UK is at "significant (threat)", which is in the middle of a five-level scale, and means an attack is likely.
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