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Saturday, 17 November, 2001, 00:00 GMT

Farm anti-terror search continues


Armed Police
Armed police returned to the farm on Friday
Residents of 20 houses in West Yorkshire have been allowed home after an investigation by Army and bomb disposal experts at a farmhouse near Leeds.

The investigations centred on Hill Top Farm in Tingley village, West Ardsley, and follow the arrest of six people in London and Liverpool under the Terrorism Act.

Detectives have been given permission to hold them until Monday.

The police cordon was lifted at about 2030 GMT on Friday and residents, who were evacuated on Thursday, have been allowed to return to their homes.

A police spokesman said the farm search was continuing and there would continue to be a police presence in the area.

Residents had been staying at West Ardsley Community Centre and were offered hotel accommodation on Friday before the cordon was lifted.

Loud explosions

A series of controlled explosions were carried out in two buildings on Thursday.

One resident, who lives just a few hundred metres away from the farm, described the scene as "bedlam".

Widow Mrs Dean said: "I heard at least three explosions ... from my living room I could hear them and they were quite loud."

West Yorkshire Police said searches at the farm had continued throughout Friday.

In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said: "Acting on safety advice from the Army bomb disposal unit, some residents were evacuated from their houses and local roads were cordoned off.

"No arrests have yet been made and searches will be continuing."

Mr Maxwell said the operation had been difficult but that their priority was to ensure the community's safety.

Bomb blast at BBC Television Centre in west London

A local infant school was also closed as a precaution and motorists have been warned to stay away from the area.

Resident David Matthews said local people knew little about who lived at the farm.

"Lights were always on and there were always cars there.

"But we have heard it's been under surveillance for 18 months."

Bombing campaign

Meanwhile, detectives are continuing to question six suspected Irish Republican dissidents over the 18-month Real IRA bombing campaign on the UK mainland.

Police said the Real IRA were the main suspects for a car bomb which partially exploded in Birmingham city centre on 3 November.

Detectives have renewed their appeals for information about the attack, and released more details about the car used.

The E-reg gold or beige Audi Coupe was bought earlier that day from Junction 10 Car Sales, on Wolverhampton Road, Walsall, before being left in Smallbrook Queensway.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker, of West Midlands Police, was hopeful the new information would prompt more witnesses to come forward.

"This is a crucial line of inquiry," she said.

Detectives believe two white men were involved in the incident but it was unclear whether both had visited the Walsall garage.

Cash was paid for the car and it left the premises, just off the M6, between 1415 GMT and 1430 GMT.

Det Ch Supt Baker was keen to hear from anyone in the area at the time, especially in a cafe next to the garage, the Park Brook pub or a nearby church on Wolverhampton Road.

Five of the suspects still being questioned about at least eight terror attacks - dating back to June last year - are thought to be from England. The sixth is believed to be from the Republic of Ireland.

Five of the men, aged between 20 and 40, were arrested on Thursday shortly after 0600 GMT, after searches in Enfield, North London, and taken to Paddington Green police station for questioning.

A sixth was arrested after searches in Liverpool and interviewed by Anti-Terrorist Branch officers at a local police station.

Grenade attack

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, they could be held for seven days without charge.

The men's addresses were also being searched by forensic specialists, but detectives have not said whether bomb equipment or guns had been discovered.

The men are being questioned about attacks including a device planted under Hammersmith Bridge in west London in June 2000 and a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the MI6 headquarters in south London three months later.

A taxi packed with high explosives, which exploded outside the BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush in March, was also believed to be the work of the Real IRA.


Related to this story:
Bomb police examine farmhouse (16 Nov 01 | England) Bomb blast in Birmingham (04 Nov 01 | England) Timeline: Dissident republican attacks (04 Nov 01 | Northern Ireland) Car bombers rock west London (03 Aug 01 | UK) Real IRA linked to post office blast (15 Apr 01 | UK) BBC bomb prompts terror warning (05 Mar 01 | UK) MI6 attack weapon identified (22 Sep 00 | UK)


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