Stroke of luck that may have stopped Olympic massacre: Seven arrested after 'guns found' in car impounded by police over claims of lack of insurance
A stroke of luck may have helped police prevent a high-profile terrorist attack in the run-up to the Olympics, it emerged yesterday.
A routine stop by officers on the M1 led to the discovery of two guns, ammunition and other weapons ‘hidden’ in a car.
Seven suspected Islamic extremists were later arrested.
Arrested: British Muslim convert Richard Dart spent two years working for the Met Police. He was one of six people detained by police across London yesterday
Alert: Seven men have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences after firearms and other weapons were found 'hidden' in a car after it was stopped by police on the M1 in South Yorkshire (pictured)
The discovery fuelled speculation that a suspect terror cell planned to go on the rampage in a scaled-down version of the Mumbai terror attacks which left 174 people dead in 2008.
The arrests deepened fears that fanatics may be plotting mass murder during the Games. Today is the seventh anniversary of the July 7 attacks in London in 2005.
Security officials have said that terrorists are most likely to attack targets outside the capital.
They also concede that a strike against a major provincial town or city would be seen as an attack on the Olympics – grabbing world-wide publicity.
Whitehall officials have confirmed that a target had been identified.
West Midlands Police said that following the M1 traffic stop, three men aged 23, 26 and 27 from Sparkhill, Birmingham, were arrested on Tuesday morning.
Three more suspects, a 22-year- old from Alum Rock, Birmingham, a 24-year-old from the Moseley area of the city, and a 22-year-old from Smethwick, West Midlands, were arrested on Wednesday evening.
A 43-year old man from Kirklees, West Yorkshire – close to Dewsbury where 7/7 bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan lived – was detained on Thursday.
While there was a huge sigh of relief that detectives had thwarted a possible ‘spectacular’, there were concerns over the length of time it took police to discover the weapons.
The arrests deepened fears that fanatics may be plotting mass murder during the Games. Today is the seventh anniversary of the July 7 attacks in London in 2005
The vehicle was pulled over during a routine stop between junctions 33 and 34 on the southbound M1 near Sheffield last Saturday.
It was impounded on suspicion of having no insurance, but the driver and passenger were not taken into custody and the car not searched.
On Monday, the vehicle was searched by police and the arms cache discovered.
It is understood a member of staff routinely patrolling the compound may have spotted something suspicious.
Background inquiries on the driver and passenger then revealed they were possible Islamic extremists known to the security services. A massive operation was launched to arrest them and several associates.
The fact that five other men were arrested, as well as those in the car, led to speculation police had moved in on a list of known associates.
South Yorkshire Police defended the delay in finding the weapons. It said: ‘This was a routine traffic police stop.
‘A search of the vehicle would have required grounds for suspicion. There was nothing initially to indicate that these kinds of items were being carried. Items were later discovered at the vehicle compound.’
Two firearms were recovered. Neither was automatic and they were not loaded, police said. There was also a small amount of ammunition.
Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said:
‘As soon as the items were discovered in the impounded vehicle, our priority was to protect the public by pursuing and arresting those we believed to be involved.’ Police said the contents of the car, which was stopped close to the Meadowhall shopping centre, were undergoing forensic analysis and the suspects’ homes had been searched.
All seven men are being held in the West Midlands.
Sources said their arrests are not connected to the detention of six people in London on Thursday, who were believed to have been plotting a terrorist attack to coincide with the Olympics. According to a report yesterday, the gang may have been planning to use a sword.
Officers have not ruled out the possibility that both sets of suspects were planning an attack to mark the 7th anniversary today of the July 7 attacks which claimed 52 lives.
Police hope that computers and phones seized during the arrests, as well as scrutiny of the suspects’ travel movements, will provide further clues about their intentions. The arrests may help to explain the huge police response to the fake cigarette ‘terror alert’ which brought the M6 Toll to a standstill in Staffordshire on Thursday.
Dozens of armed officers, troops, firefighters and bomb disposal experts swooped on the scene after a coach passenger reported smoke coming from a bag. It later emerged the alert was prompted by a passenger using an electronic cigarette which emitted a vapour.
The UK terrorism threat level is unchanged from ‘substantial’, which means a terrorist attack is a ‘strong possibility’. There are two higher levels –’severe’, meaning an attack is ‘highly likely’, and ‘critical’, meaning an attack is ‘expected imminently’.
Police last night revealed they have been given more time to question six men from the West Midlands who have been arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist acts.
Officers now have until Wednesday to charge or release them or apply for a further warrant.
Additional reporting by Chris Brooke.
Read more: http://www.dailymail...-insurance.html
Stroke of luck that may have stopped Olympic massacre: Seven arrested after 'guns found' in car impounded by police over claims of lack of insurance
#1
Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:32 AM
#2
Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:35 AM
#3
Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:43 AM
The cop who pulled this car over is perhaps one of the luckiest bobbies walking the beat, if he had decided to search the vehicle who's telling what COULD have happened to him.
A very narrow escape here though for the country, seems SYP has a history of stopping infamous plots/people with sheer luck on their side... Yorkshire Ripper anyone?
Edited by Radman, 07 July 2012 - 10:45 AM.
#4
Posted 07 July 2012 - 11:21 AM
Good result though... well done that copper!
#5
Posted 07 July 2012 - 11:24 AM
#6
Posted 07 July 2012 - 11:30 AM
Olympics will be fine, G4S are on the case.
Phew,
Thanks for the reassurance on that one Sam, had me worried for a minute there, im glad their crack team of Security Specialists are on the case, otherwise we might have been in REAL trouble.
#7
Posted 07 July 2012 - 12:43 PM
Actually, just found it....
Unlucky mate
#8
Posted 07 July 2012 - 12:44 PM
#9
Posted 07 July 2012 - 12:49 PM
For years its been known that criminals use the motorway network as their primary method of travelling, and there has been countless number caught in a similar way, and here we are cutting traffic units. Narrow escape for the country some say, one which will undoubtably be missed in future.
Traffic Policing isnt on the Governments agenda, criminals/Terrorists use vehicles to travel, they use the motorway network to move about.
Yet for years our traffic policing units have been neglected and cross border policing a fairly new idea (central Motorway Group ect.)
As in my airport thread if it was up to me i'd have a national highway police service who's job was to police Britains Motorways - it wont ever happen though... Far too much money involved.
#11
Posted 07 July 2012 - 01:12 PM
Its a form of transport, lets give it to BTP
Hey why not
Seriously though Motorway Policing should be addressed as the number of traffic cops continues to fall across the country - I travel the M1 & M18 everyday to work and I very rarely see marked police vehicles - lots of HATO's though.
Didn't that Richard do a documentary for the BBC with his brother? I think I recognise him...
Actually, just found it....
Unlucky mate
After watching the video his step-brother seems nothing but an a**ehole...
How does someone turn so radical so quickly?
Echoing what you said though Nicked - Unlucky mate..
Edited by Radman, 07 July 2012 - 04:47 PM.
#12
Posted 07 July 2012 - 05:12 PM
#13
Posted 07 July 2012 - 05:20 PM
Bit of a question to answer though about not checking the car correctly when it seized. Just goes to show always worth checking the driver hasn't left anything valuable in the car.
Yup questions will be asked - still a very narrow escape here.
Almost makes you wonder how much goes un-noticed.
#14
Posted 07 July 2012 - 05:42 PM
Not really. No power of search just because you're seizing a vehicle no insurance. I usually ask the driver to remove anything of value themselves, then a quick visual check through the window before the recovery lorry comes and takes it away. I certainly don't search the boot, glovebox, anything like that.Bit of a question to answer though about not checking the car correctly when it seized. Just goes to show always worth checking the driver hasn't left anything valuable in the car.
#15
Posted 07 July 2012 - 05:55 PM
Bit of a question to answer though about not checking the car correctly when it seized. Just goes to show always worth checking the driver hasn't left anything valuable in the car.
What power are you suggesting they should have used to search the vehicle?
EDIT: What LV said!
#17
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:14 PM
Your not searching. Just checking.
I think you'll find the courts would consider you 'checking' in glove boxes, the boot, etc etc as being the same as 'searching' those locations and as you will no doubt know you need a power to do that..!
#18
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:20 PM
If I happen to come across something that they shouldn't have then I deal with it accordingly. I have had no issues around this yet.
#19
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:46 PM
No you have a duty of care for the car and whatever is inside it In our slips we have to list what is left. If that means checking boots for spare wheels etc then so be it. I am not searching merely listing things that are left in it.
If I happen to come across something that they shouldn't have then I deal with it accordingly. I have had no issues around this yet.
Just because you do it doesn't mean it's legal. It isn't legal to search a vehicle without a power to search or written consent of the owner/driver (which in this situation almost certainly must be given before the search takes place). Powers of search is really pretty basic stuff so I'm surprised that a police officer should be getting it so wrong..!
And a 'duty of care' to the contents of the car? Goodness. The police have a responsibility to keep the vehicle safe. They do this by using vetted and approved recovery agents who have various (quite stringent) standards they must meet regarding vehicle storage and safekeeping. Staying with the vehicle until it's handed over to the recovery agent and telling the driver to remove items of value or anything they wouldn't want to lose should they fail to adhere to the requirements to retain rights to the vehicle in the meantime is sufficient to discharge that responsibility.
#21
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:53 PM
Of course you are! How on earth is looking through the car sufficiently carefully to list items of value (ie, looking in the boot, glovebox and under seats etc) any different to carrying out a search for stolen property and looking in those exact same places, for example?But I'm not searching
search
(sûrch)
v. searched, search·ing, search·es
v.tr.
1. To make a thorough examination of; look over carefully in order to find something; explore.
#23
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:57 PM
Well what are you doing?
They're apparently 'checking' which is different?!
Next time I want to turn somebody over and can't find any reasonable grounds I'm just going to 'just check them' instead of 'searching them' under s.23...!
#24
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:58 PM
#25
Posted 07 July 2012 - 07:59 PM
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