Latest news with #PoliceandCriminalEvidenceAct
ITV News
18-05-2025
- ITV News
Four Iranian men arrested on suspicion of preparing terror attack released
Four Iranian men who were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terror attack have been released from custody. The four men - a 29-year-old arrested in Swindon, Wiltshire, a 46-year-old arrested in west London, a 29-year-old arrested in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and a 40-year-old arrested in Rochdale - were detained under the Terrorism Act. After obtaining "various warrants of further detention", all four were released from custody on Saturday, police said. A fifth man, a 24-year-old arrested in Manchester, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and previously released on bail, with conditions, to a date in May. As part of the investigation, officers continue to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London, Swindon and High Wycombe areas, police said. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises. 'Since those arrests, detectives have been working to assess all the evidence we've gathered and to question the men. 'They are now being released from custody but our investigation remains active and is ongoing. 'We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support. 'This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public. 'I would like to thank the public for their support and understanding – particularly in the areas and communities across the UK who have felt the direct impact of our activity. 'I'd like to ask people to remain vigilant and contact us if anything doesn't look or feel right. Information from the public is crucial to our work.'
Leader Live
18-05-2025
- Leader Live
Four Iranian men arrested over alleged terror plot released from custody
The Metropolitan Police said they were 'working very closely' with the premises identified as the 'suspected target of the alleged plot'. Five men, who are all Iranian nationals, were arrested as part of a pre-planned operation on May 3 on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act, police said. Four of the men – a 29-year-old arrested in Swindon, Wiltshire, a 46-year-old arrested in west London, a 29-year-old arrested in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and a 40-year-old arrested in Rochdale – were detained under the Terrorism Act. After obtaining 'various warrants of further detention', all four were released from custody on Saturday, police said. The fifth man, a 24-year-old arrested in Manchester, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and previously released on bail, with conditions, to a date in May. As part of the investigation, officers continue to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London, Swindon and High Wycombe areas, police said. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises. 'Since those arrests, detectives have been working to assess all the evidence we've gathered and to question the men. 'They are now being released from custody but our investigation remains active and is ongoing. 'We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support. 'This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public. 'I would like to thank the public for their support and understanding – particularly in the areas and communities across the UK who have felt the direct impact of our activity. 'I'd like to ask people to remain vigilant and contact us if anything doesn't look or feel right. Information from the public is crucial to our work.' Mr Murphy said police could be contacted in confidence on 0800 789 321, or via
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Three Iranian nationals appear in court charged with spying offences
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with offences under the National Security Act. The three men all arrived in the UK by irregular means, including by small boats and a lorry, between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, of St John's Wood, Manesh, of Kensal Rise, and Noori, of Ealing, spoke through a Farsi interpreter at the brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. No pleas were entered by the trio who were all wearing grey sweatshirts, with Sepahvand attending in a wheelchair and Noori hobbling into the dock. They are all charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service between August 14 2024 and February 16 2025. Sepahvand is also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK. Manesh and Noori are further charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK, would be committed by others. The trio were remanded into custody and will next appear for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6. District Judge Annabel Pilling told the defendants: 'I'm sending your case to the Central Criminal Court. 'There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty. 'The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on June 6.' The three men were arrested on May 3, and five Iranian nationals were also arrested on that day in connection with an entirely separate investigation, with four of them remaining in custody after warrants of further detention were secured. The four – a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; and a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area – were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006. A fifth, a 24-year-old man in the Manchester area, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act before being bailed with conditions to an unspecified date in May. The Government will strengthen national security powers after the three men were charged, the Home Secretary said. Yvette Cooper said: 'I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities. 'The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings. 'But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. 'The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions. 'We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil. 'As part of that process we will publish next week the results of Jonathan Hall KC's review into the application of our counter-terrorism framework to modern-day state threats.'
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Four Iranian men arrested over alleged terror plot released from custody
The Metropolitan Police said they were 'working very closely' with the premises identified as the 'suspected target of the alleged plot'. Five men, who are all Iranian nationals, were arrested as part of a pre-planned operation on May 3 on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act, police said. Four of the men – a 29-year-old arrested in Swindon, Wiltshire, a 46-year-old arrested in west London, a 29-year-old arrested in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and a 40-year-old arrested in Rochdale – were detained under the Terrorism Act. After obtaining 'various warrants of further detention', all four were released from custody on Saturday, police said. The fifth man, a 24-year-old arrested in Manchester, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and previously released on bail, with conditions, to a date in May. As part of the investigation, officers continue to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London, Swindon and High Wycombe areas, police said. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises. 'Since those arrests, detectives have been working to assess all the evidence we've gathered and to question the men. 'They are now being released from custody but our investigation remains active and is ongoing. 'We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support. 'This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public. 'I would like to thank the public for their support and understanding – particularly in the areas and communities across the UK who have felt the direct impact of our activity. 'I'd like to ask people to remain vigilant and contact us if anything doesn't look or feel right. Information from the public is crucial to our work.' Mr Murphy said police could be contacted in confidence on 0800 789 321, or via
Leader Live
17-05-2025
- Leader Live
Three Iranian nationals appear in court charged with spying offences
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with offences under the National Security Act. The three men all arrived in the UK by irregular means, including by small boats and a lorry, between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, of St John's Wood, Manesh, of Kensal Rise, and Noori, of Ealing, spoke through a Farsi interpreter at the brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. No pleas were entered by the trio who were all wearing grey sweatshirts, with Sepahvand attending in a wheelchair and Noori hobbling into the dock. They are all charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service between August 14 2024 and February 16 2025. Sepahvand is also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK. Manesh and Noori are further charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK, would be committed by others. The trio were remanded into custody and will next appear for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6. District Judge Annabel Pilling told the defendants: 'I'm sending your case to the Central Criminal Court. 'There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty. 'The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on June 6.' The three men were arrested on May 3, and five Iranian nationals were also arrested on that day in connection with an entirely separate investigation, with four of them remaining in custody after warrants of further detention were secured. The four – a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; and a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area – were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006. A fifth, a 24-year-old man in the Manchester area, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act before being bailed with conditions to an unspecified date in May. The Government will strengthen national security powers after the three men were charged, the Home Secretary said. Yvette Cooper said: 'I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities. 'The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings. 'But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. 'The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions. 'We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil. 'As part of that process we will publish next week the results of Jonathan Hall KC's review into the application of our counter-terrorism framework to modern-day state threats.'
