Police arrest five following terror attacks

Published on 01/07/2007 17:08

POLICE have arrested five people following two unsuccessful terror attacks in London and Glasgow.

The arrests came after police linked the attack in Glasgow on Saturday with the two failed car bomb attempts in London on Friday.

Last night the government increased the security level from "severe" to "critical" - the higest possible level, suggesting more attacks are expected.

This morning, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said: "It is clear that we are dealing, in general terms, with people who are associated with al-Qaeda.

He added: "It's obvious that we have a group of people - not just in this country, but round the world - who are prepared at any time to inflict what they want to be maximum damage on civilians, irrespective of the religion of these people who are killed or maimed are to be."

Lord Stevens, Mr Brown's new terrorism adviser, said the attacks signalled a "major escalation in the war being waged on us by Islamic terrorists".

He added: "It is clear a loose but deadly network of interlinked operational cells has developed."

On Friday, two cars containing petrol, gas cylinders and nails were discovered outside the Tiger Tiger club in London's Haymarket, but the devices failed to detonate.

Then on Saturday a 4x4 vehicle was driven at the main terminal of Glasgow International Airport and set on fire.

Police have confirmed that five people have been arrested so far in relation to the attacks.

Counter-terrorism police made the arrests hours after Strathclyde police confirmed they were linking the attack in Glasgow with events in London.

Two people were arrested at Glasgow International Airport yesterday.

One had suffered severe burns and was transported to Paisley's Alexandra Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition.

The hospital was evacuated shortly after the suspect arrived for treatment following the discovery of a "suspect device" strapped to his body, which was later found to be harmless.

A controlled explosion was also carried out at the hospital on a car, thought to be connected to the attack on Glasgow Airport.

Police are now searching houses in Neuk Crescent in the village of Houston, near Glasgow in connection with the incident.

A further two arrests were made later on the M6 near Sandbach in Cheshire.

Eyewitness Peter Whitehead said traffic had been brought to a halt on the motorway as police made the arrests.

He said: "They [police] forced a car onto the hard shoulder and got the occupants out and as far as I could see arrested them."

Police confirmed that a 26-year-old man and 27-year-old woman have been arrested and will be transported to London for questioning.

A fifth arrest was made in Liverpool.

Scotland Yard say a 26-year-old man has been arrested and two properties in the Liverpool area are currently being searched.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith held a meeting of the government's emergency committee today to discuss the terror attacks in Glasgow and London.

Following the meeting, Ms Smith issued a statement urging the British people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious events to the police

She said: "We won't, as the British people, be intimidated or let anyone stop us getting on with our lives."

Khurshid Ahmed, Chair of the British Muslim Forum condemned the attempted attacks and urged the Muslim community to help police in their investgation.

He said: "We take the heightened security level extremely seriously and urge all of our communities to remain calm, be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the authorities.

"It is the duty of every British citizen to assist the police in safeguarding national security and ensuring the safety of all our citizens."

Scotland Yard's anti-terror chief, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, has travelled to Strathclyde in the wake of the attack on Glasgow Airport.

Mr Clarke is head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command which was formed last year from both the Anti-Terrorist Branch and Special Branch.

He has overseen the handling of several major plots and attacks on the capital, including the July 7 London bombings and fertiliser bomb plot.

Police have been increasing patrols and security for events in London over the weekend, including the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Glasgow airport is slowly re-opening and flights from Rolando and Ibiza have arrived.

Traffic tailed back along the M8 today as travellers attempted to reach the airport to catch their delayed flights.

Hundreds of people had to queue outside the main terminal awaiting check-in amid a heavy police presence.

Many arrived to find that their luggage had been lost following the evacuation of the airport yesterday.

A number of other UK airports have stepped up security, including Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Blackpool.

Security has also been tightened at airports across the US.

Chris Yates, aviation security analyst for Jane's Airport Review believes armed police will become a regular sight at both airport and train stations in response to the attack in Glasgow.

He said: "There is not an awful lot else that can be done as airports, by their very nature, are public buildings.

"The public need to have access to go on holiday or go on business. We can't lock down the system to the extent we make it too difficult for people to travel.

"The knock on consequences of that could harm the economy and drive the public away from taking flights."