| More on the article Fred posted earlier. |
Three of those held were detained under anti-terrorism legislation and five under immigration laws. Two other people were arrested, but later released. The eight detained men are reported to be Libyans.
| Reeeeally? Not Samoans? |
One of the men arrested in Manchester is Libyan-born Tahir Nasuf, a 44-year-old. He moved to Manchester in 1993 and is married with four children.
| Who will get to stay even if the Brits manage to deport Tahir, which they prob'ly won't. |
The operation is being led by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) anti-terrorist unit, and the searches using warrants issued under the Terrorism Act 2000, are likely to continue for at least the rest of the day.
The BBC's Nick Ravenscroft said it was beginning to emerge that the raids probably centred on activities in Iraq. The operation was jointly organised with MI5 and followed an intelligence-gathering investigation that has been going on for "at least a year", said Mr Todd. Police said 18 addresses had been raided - 12 in Greater Manchester, one in Liverpool, one in Middlesbrough, three in Birmingham and one in Eastham, London.
Police said they issued a search warrant for a further property in Farnworth, Bolton, on Wednesday afternoon. One house in Middlesbrough had been raided and is still being searched, but no arrests have been made, said Cleveland Police.
Three people were held under the Terrorism Act and three under immigration legislation in Greater Manchester, one in Merseyside under immigration legislation and one in London under immigration legislation, police said. Police would not disclose where the ninth arrest was made.
| Another article courtesy of Dan sez that they're now up to 10 Libyans. |