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Islamist lockdown plot foiled by police in joint armed raids

Police at a property in East London
Police at a property in East London

Armed police have foiled an lslamist lockdown terror plot after carrying out raids on addresses in east London and Leicester.

Four men, aged between 17 and 32, were arrested after police stormed three homes in coordinated raids on Thursday afternoon.

Residents in the Goodhayes Park area of Ilford were alerted to the raids when a series of loud flash grenades were detonated by police as they entered a flat in Green Lane.

At least a dozen loud bangs were heard, which locals thought were gunshots, but Scotland Yard said no shots had been fired during the operation.

A 27-year-old man who was inside the property was taken to police after being bitten by a police dog during the raid.

Neighbours were told to stay indoors because the police dog was on the loose as the arrest took place.

Police outside a property in Goodmayes in Redbridge - PA
Police outside a property in Goodmayes in Redbridge - PA

Elsewhere, a teenager and a 31-year-old man were detained at a property in another part of east London and a 32-year-old was arrested at an address in Leicestershire.

The group were all held on suspicion of being concerned in preparing a terror attack.

Details of the intended target were not revealed, but sources confirmed it was an Islamist plot, which had been planned during lockdown.

The plot was not thought to involve explosives, but the proactive police operation was ordered amid fears that the group was ready to act imminently.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The arrests in east London were carried out with the support of armed officers. No shots were fired, although one of the men was bitten on the foot by a police dog during the course of his arrest and has been taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be serious.

“Officers from East Midlands Counter Terrorism Policing and Leicestershire Police also assisted in the arrest in Leicestershire. No armed officers were present for that arrest.

“Officers are currently searching the three addresses, and a search is also underway at a fourth address in east London as part of the investigation.

“All four men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2000 and remain in police custody at this time.”