Six men and one woman have been tossed in the clink in Birmingham as part of a large counter-terrorism operation intended "to ensure public safety", police said.The suspects were jugged at or near their homes overnight on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said six men, aged between 25 and 32, were taken into custody by unarmed officers in the Moseley, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Ward End and Balsall Heath areas of Birmingham between 11.30pm last night and 1am today.
ln addition, a 22-year-old woman was tossed in the clink at 6.30 this morning on suspicion of failing to disclose information, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.
Although the nature of suspected offences has not been disclosed, the arrests are not believed to have any connection to the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference, which is currently taking place at Birmingham's International Convention Centre.
A West Midlands Police statement said: "Searches are now being conducted by specialist teams at these and seven other properties in the city -- six domestic and one commercial.
"The suspects are being held for questioning at a cop shoppe in the West Midlands Police area."
Police are believed to be searching a house in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham. Plain-clothes coppers and forensic teams could be seen at a house in Turner Road. Meanwhile,
...back at the pie fight, Bella opened her mouth at precisely the wrong moment...
a grey estate car was covered with tarpaulin and driven away on the back of a flatbed truck in nearby Ladypool Road.