It was a matter of hours. Counter-terrorism authorities in England conducted two significant operations over the weekend, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals allegedly connected to Iranian-linked terror threats. These actions highlight the escalating anxieties surrounding Tehran’s role in fostering hostile activities within the UK.
In the first operation, which authorities classified as “imminent,” five suspects were apprehended, including four confirmed Iranian nationals, according to a report from BBC. Investigators continue to assess the nationality of the fifth detainee. This meticulously coordinated effort spanned multiple locations, including Greater Manchester, West London, and Swindon, involving an extensive deployment of counter-terrorism officers. Although specific details regarding the targeted site remain undisclosed, authorities verified it was a location within UK borders.
Dramatic footage taken in Rochdale showed one man removed from a house by armed officers – while another was filmed being dragged through the street in Swindon with plastic bags placed over his arms.
As part of a separate investigation led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) – responsible for leading counter-terror and espionage investigations – three other Iranian men were arrested in London on Saturday.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the operations, worked on by hundreds of police officers and staff, were among “the biggest counter state threat and counter terrorism operations” in recent years.
Cdr Dominic Murphy, the CTC’s head, stressed that they were not treating the two investigations into “separate incidents” as linked.
Footage from yesterday Terrorist Raid in Rochdale..
Individual arrested at the Front..
Raid Conducted by UKSF CT Team (22SAS) & Police CTSFO.
Eight Arrested All Iranian…
Good to See UKSF at the Forefront keeping us safe… pic.twitter.com/qfiFe4zqZC
— MrGeorgeSmiley1905 (@GeorgeSmileyOBE) May 4, 2025
Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit, emphasized that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages, with investigators rigorously exploring potential foreign connections and assessing broader threat implications. Murphy appealed directly to the public, urging vigilance and immediate reporting of any suspicious activities.
In an independent investigation, authorities detained three additional Iranian nationals in London on suspicions related to actions threatening the UK’s national security interests on behalf of Iran. Officials underscored that this inquiry is entirely separate from the earlier operation. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described both incidents as symptomatic of some of the gravest threats currently confronting the UK. While expressing particular concern over the frequent involvement of Iranian nationals, Cooper refrained from explicitly attributing responsibility to the Iranian government, noted The Guardian.
These developments align closely with recent alerts from UK intelligence agencies warning about an increase in Tehran-linked threats. MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum recently disclosed that multiple plots associated with Iranian operatives had been successfully disrupted in the past two years.
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