UK police arrest 4 terror suspects in London

USPA News - Four men were arrested in London on Tuesday on suspicion of commissioning or preparing acts of terrorism, British police said, adding that the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism. It is unclear if the arrests are linked to the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), which is better known as Scotland Yard, said the men were arrested by Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) officers after warrants were executed at addresses in various parts of London. All four suspects were taken to police stations in central London and remained in custody on late Tuesday afternoon. A police statement said the men are aged 21, 21, 20 and 20 and were being held under the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism. It said a number of residential addresses and vehicles in west and central London were being searched as part of the investigation. SO15 officers were assisted by armed police in the execution of warrants at one of the addresses but no shots were fired. One of the four men, aged 21, was tasered before being taken into custody but was not injured and did not require medical treatment, the police statement said. "These arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist related terrorism," police said. Scotland Yard refused to comment when asked whether the arrests were in relation to British citizens traveling or attempting to travel to Syria and Iraq to join Islamist fighters there. "We won`t be adding to our statement at this time," police spokesperson Asim Bashir said, declining to provide further details. More than 3,000 citizens from the European Union are now believed to have traveled to Syria and Iraq to Islamist fighters, with most of them coming from Western countries such as France and Britain, EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove said on September 26. The majority of Europeans are believed to have joined Islamic State militants who have declared a caliphate in the region.