Eight arrested in terror raids

Eight arrested in terror raids

Some of the men arrested lived in this Derby flat

Police have arrested eight men under anti-terrorism legislation following early-morning raids in Derby.

The arrests took place at 0500 GMT on Thursday at two locations in Derby, one in the Normanton Road area.

All the men are in their 20s, of Middle Eastern origin, and are being held under the Terrorism Act 2000, a Derbyshire Police spokeswoman said.

Two premises are now being searched by police who say no weapons or toxic substances have been found.

Police have taken away mobile phones and documents, BBC East Midlands Today reported.

People definitely didn't suspect that they may have been terrorists

Mohammed Razaq, landlord

The arrests were part of an ongoing operation and it was confirmed that officers from the Metropolitan Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police were involved.

Detective chief superintendent David Gee, from Derbyshire Police, said: "We are living in difficult times and we owe it to everyone to carry out this operation with sensitivity.

"For operational reasons we cannot discuss details of the arrest and I would like to reassure everyone that the safety of all members of the community is our main concern."

The men were taken to a police station in Derbyshire where they are being questioned.

Eyewitnesses said one of the raids took place at a flat above Iqra Books, in Normanton Road.

'People shocked'

Shop owner Mohammed Akhtar said: "People came in to tell me what had happened.

"They said they had seen the police raiding the flat and leave with a number of people.

"The four men who lived upstairs had only moved in a couple of weeks ago."

Mohammed Razaq, owner of Pak Foods in Normanton Road, said he rented the room to four men a few weeks ago.

"We don't know much about them and people definitely didn't suspect that they may have been terrorists.

"Some people in the area have been shocked, but they are more worried about how this will be reported and how it will reflect on the area."

Police are meeting with community leaders to discuss the raid.