Seven men have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences after firearms and other weapons were found “hidden” in a car, West Midlands Police said.
They are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
A force spokesman said the arrests “followed a routine stop of a vehicle by police on the M1 motorway in South Yorkshire on June 30″.
The car was impounded on suspicion of having no insurance but the driver and passenger were not detained by South Yorkshire Police.
The spokesman said: “Firearms, offensive weapons and other material were later found hidden inside, prompting police to take action to trace and arrest the driver, passenger and others suspected of being involved.”
Police said three men aged 23, 26 and 27 from Sparkhill, Birmingham, were arrested on Tuesday morning.
Three more suspects, a 22-year-old from Alum Rock, Birmingham, a 24-year-old from the Moseley area of the city, and a 22-year-old from Smethwick, West Midlands, were arrested on Wednesday evening.
A 43-year old man from Kirklees, West Yorkshire, was detained on Thursday.
Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt said if the car had not been searched the men may not have been traced and subsequently arrested.
Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “As soon as the items were discovered in the impounded vehicle, our priority was to protect the public by pursuing and arresting those we believed to be involved.”
Police said the contents of the car were undergoing forensic analysis and the suspects’ homes had been searched.
Detectives have been given extra time to question the three men arrested on Tuesday, after the initial 48-hour detention period ran out. They now have until next Tuesday morning to charge or release the men, or apply for a further warrant.
http://news.sky.com/story/956908/seven-terror-arrests-after-guns-found-in-car
“Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt said if the car had not been searched the men may not have been traced and subsequently arrested.”
And if they hadn’t have put enough fuel in it it may have ran out before they got as far as they did..! He’s a bright spark aint he?
Crime correspondent? Don’t give up your day job Martin, whatever that is.
Intelligent little terrorists, aren’t they. Carrying weapons and other incriminating evidence in a car that was uninsured and bound to be picked up by the police.
If they are the kind of threat we face, then when it comes to civil war, we have nothing to worry about.