Suspects Arrested in UK Anti-Terror Sweep

Police forces from five metropolitan areas and MI5 ( British equivalent of the FBI) conducted anti-terror raids in northwest Britain resulting in the arrests of at least eight individuals suspected of plotting and facilitating attacks overseas.

At least 16 homes were raided in the sweep which began today around 3am local time. The Greater Manchester Police anti-terrorist unit and MI5 jointly led the operations which are expected to last all day. Five hundred police officers from Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Cleveland, Metropolitan Police and Merseyside participated.

The suspects were arrested under the UK Terrorism Act and they can be detained for 14 days before charging them.