Raids net 'Islamic suspects'

2004-03-30 12:52

London - Eight people were arrested in police raids in and around London on Tuesday which also netted half a tonne of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, police said.

Experts say the same material was used to make the bombs that went off in Bali, Indonesia in October 2002, killing 202 people.

All eight men, who were being held under anti-terrorist laws, were British citizens, said Peter Clarke, head of the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch.

He added the raids were unconnected with the March 11 train blasts in Madrid.

Undisclosed

Some of the raids took place at sites near to Gatwick and Luton airports. Others occurred at Ealing in west London, Redbridge in east London, and at an undisclosed location in the Thames Valley.

Sky News television and the domestic Press Association news agency, quoting police sources, said the dawn raids had targeted "Islamic terrorist suspects".

"At approximately 06:00 in a pre-planned intelligence-led operation, Met Police officers, supported by officers from Thames Valley, Sussex, Surrey and Bedfordshire Police, executed search warrants issued under the Terrorism Act 2000 at premises in London and the Home Counties," a police statement said.

"A number of people have been arrested and the operation continues," it added.

- AFP