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Terror suspects arrested in London as Iranians go to poll

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, June 17, IRNA
UK Terrorist Arrests-Iran
Four men, reportedly linked to Iranian dissidents opposed to the government, were arrested by anti- terrorist police in north London early Friday morning.

The suspects were said to be of Middle Eastern origins but there was no immediate confirmation, suggesting that any attacks were planned to disrupt Iranians going to the polls across Britain to vote in the country's presidential elections.

"There is no information at this stage to suggest the individuals were planning an attack in the UK. The inquiry relates to the Middle East," police sources told IRNA.

Scotland Yard's official line was not to comment on ongoing anti- terrorism operation, but the BBC reported that the raids on houses in Finchley and Barnet, were "part of a long-running operation involving MI5, believed to be targeting an Iranian dissident group." The possible link also came from sources suggesting that the suspects were not connected to international terrorism or any al-Qaida group.

IRNA further learnt that speculation about their identity being Iranian dissidents came from the addresses of the houses raided by police.

Police were reported to have closed off roads while officers checked the car two of them were traveling in and carrying out searches at their homes.

The four men, who were aged 31, 37, 58 and 63, were being held under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows arrests without a warrant against persons "reasonably suspects to be a terrorist."
They were understood to have been taken to the high security police station at Paddington Green, west London, where they were being questioned.

There were also no immediate indications that the men may be members of the Iraq-based Iranian exiled Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) although it is proscribed as a terrorist group under Britain's 2000 Act.

Anti-terrorist police reportedly launched ongoing operations against the MKO two years ago, when property was seized from raids on five private residences in London.

HC/1771