Birmingham Terror Arrests Part Of Brussels And Paris Attack Investigation

15 April 2016, 15:53 | Updated: 15 April 2016, 16:18

brussels memorial

Police in Birmingham say anti-terror arrests in the city last night are part of an investigation which include the French and Belgian police.

Three men and a woman were arrested in Birmingham last night and a man was arrested at Gatwick this morning.

Police say they were pre-planned arrests and there is no evidence of a threat to the public and there is no information about any plan to attack the UK.

But MI5, French and Belgian Polcie have all been involved and in a statement from West Midlands Polcie they say it is to "address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe."

Four people – three men aged 26, 40 and 59 and a 29-year-old woman - were arrested in Birmingham last night (Thursday 14 April) and a 26-year-old man was arrested at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of today (Friday 15 April).

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who leads on counter terrorism for the West Midlands, said: “This action forms part of an extensive investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU), together with the wider counter terrorism network, MI5 and international partners including Belgian and French authorities to address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe.

“The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no risk to the public at any time and there is no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being planned.”

All five are being questioned in the West Midlands and police are also searching a number of homes in the city as part of the investigation.