Police ‘Blunder’ Sparks Anti-Terror Raids

Britain’s top anti-terror police officer has apologised after a ‘blunder’ which apparently led to raids in a major terror operation being brought forward. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Police ‘Blunder’ Sparks Anti-Terror Raids
Related content

* 11 suspects in anti-terror raids Pakistani
* Top anti-terrorism officer quits over blunder
* Video: Reaction to a Quick resignation
* Related Hot Topic: Terrorism

Have your say: Terrorism

Twelve men, suspected of links to al Qaeda, have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism operation across the North West of England.

Officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit supported by Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary conducted a series of raids.

Arrests were made at addresses in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, Liverpool – including John Moores University – and a Homebase store in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

The raids were believed to have been brought forward after the Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was photographed carrying sensitive papers relating to the operation as he arrived in Downing Street.

Among a large bundle of papers under his arm was a white document clearly marked “secret” and carrying an outline briefing on a counter-terrorism operation.

The information contained details of the suspects, the locations under surveillance and the names of officers involved in the inquiry.

Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: “It appears the raids were brought forward because of fears that information would get out.

“If they have been brought forward more than a few hours, perhaps days or even weeks ahead of the original plan, then clearly the operation has been compromised.”

Brunt added: “The details of what police find in the searches that are going on will be the real indication of how important this operation is. But it is clearly a major operation.

“There are people who I’ve spoken to who say ‘we really don’t have a clear idea of what the plot or plots were’ – which is a very unusual thing to say.

“It does rather suggest that these raids have been carried out much earlier than the authorities were intending to do them.”

Mr Quick has apologised to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson following the blunder. He said he “deeply regretted” leaving the document on show.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Assistant Commissioner Quick accepts he made a mistake on leaving a sensitive document on open view and deeply regrets it. He has apologised to the Commissioner and colleagues.”

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “I want to congratulate Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire police forces for conducting a successful anti-terrorism operation which has resulted in 12 arrests at a number of locations in the North West of England.

“They are to be commended for the professional manner in which they conducted this operation.”

A number of addresses across the North West are currently being searched.

A witness told Sky News one of those arrested was a student at Liverpool’s John Moores University.

Armed police also raided an internet cafe and shop in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, which has a large Asian population.

Two men were taken from the cafe by police, locals said. Three other people were thought to have been detained at a house in Cheetham Hill.

Up to 100 officers swooped on the Homebase store in Clitheroe and arrested two security guards.

Officers simultaneously raided a nearby guesthouse Guest House, where the pair were staying.

The 12 suspects are believed to be British men of Asian origin.

View st john’s in a larger map