Eight suspected Islamic terrorists have been arrested and more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate recovered early this morning in several locations
around the UK. All persons arrested are British citizens between the ages of 17-32. This news comes just hours after the Phillipines reports of
similar arrests and discovery of explosives.
Sky.com
The raids happened around 6am local time as police, numbered around 700, armed with search warrants entered 24 locations throughout the country. The
searches took place at several buildings in London, plus Uxbridge, Ilford, Colindale, Crawley, Slough, Luton, Horley and Reading.
The ammonium nitrate was discovered in a storage facility on Boston Road, Hanwell, west London, according to Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner
Peter Clarke. Clarke is also the National Co-ordinator for Terrorism.
The operation is still ongoing, indicating there may be more arrests made as the day progresses.
The arrests are not linked to IRA activities, nor are they directly related to the Madrid bombings.
Arrests were made in Crawley, Luton, Redbridge, Ealing in London and in the Thames Valley.
Ammonium nitrate, when mixed with diesel fuel, yields an extremely powerful and deadly explosion. The 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995
Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City, the 2002 Bali blasts and the 2003 Turkey bombing all were a result of ammonium nitrate explosives.
More on this story as it develops.
Related Stories:
TheSentinel.co.uk
Reuters AlertNet
CNN.com
TheScotsman.co.uk
ATS Discussion:
Phillipines Attack "Thwarted"
Related ATSNN Stories:
Where is the Missing Fertilizer?
[Edited on 30-3-2004 by Banshee]