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Thursday, 15 November, 2001, 15:02 GMT

Six arrested over UK bomb attacks

Officers investigating recent bomb attacks on the UK mainland have arrested six people under the Terrorism Act.

Anti-Terrorist Branch officers, supported by Specialist Firearms Teams, made the arrests at an address in north London shortly after 0600GMT on Thursday.

The arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation into dissident Irish Republican terrorist groups
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, Metropolitan Police

Five men, aged between 20 and 40 years of age, were arrested and taken to a central London police station for questioning.

A sixth man was arrested in Liverpool.

He has been taken to a local police station where he is being interviewed by Anti-Terrorist Branch officers.

Operation ongoing

The operation is still ongoing and a number of addresses are in the process of being searched.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, of the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorist Branch said: "Today's arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation into dissident Irish Republican terrorist groups.

"Those in custody are being questioned in connection with the current bombing campaign on the UK mainland.

"Anti Terrorist and Special Branch officers worked closely with the Security Services in planning today's operation - and were supported as ever by both the An Garda Siochana and the Northern Ireland Police Service.

"The Metropolitan Police Service would like to remind people to remain alert to the threat of terrorism from a range of terrorist groups.

"I am not in a position to discuss this operation further at this stage."

He said anyone with information should contact the 24-hour confidential telephone line on 0800 789 321

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