Terror suspects time in prison extended
The eight men arrested last week under section 41 of the Terrorism Act will be held by police for another three days.
They were arrested after a series of dawn raids across the South East last Tuesday, which lead to the discovery of more than half a tonne of potentially explosive material.
All eight have been described as British and are being detained at Paddington Green police station in London. Under the Terrorism Act 2000 the men can be held for two weeks before being charged.
The police can now keep seven of them in custody until Thursday at which time they must be charged, released, or the police will have to apply for more time.
Similar rules apply to a ninth man arrested last Thursday, however a 17-year-old can only be held until Tuesday.
Police revealed that around 700 officers from five police forces searched 24 locations last Tuesday.
Half a tonne of ammonium nitrate was found. This chemical, normally used as a fertiliser, was used in the Bali bombing last year as well as the IRA bombs in Manchester and the Docklands in the 1990s. It was seized at a self storage facility in Boston Road, Hanwell, west London.
After the arrests, Peter Clarke, national co-ordinator of terrorist investigations, said the men were arrested “on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”.
He added: “This is a complex and protracted investigation, which will be detailed, very thorough and take some time to complete.”
The original eight suspects are aged between 17 and 32, the ninth is reportedly 27.
