***** UPDATE Men are of Arabic Origin *****
17 September 2010 Last updated at 08:37 BBC
Five men have been arrested in London by the Metropolitan Police in relation to a potential threat to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.
The arrests were made at 0545 BST at addresses in London after counter-terrorism officers received intelligence of a potential threat.
The five men have been taken to a central London police station.
Officers are continuing searches at premises connected to the raids. The men are not British nationals.
Earlier, the Pope attended an assembly of children at a Catholic college in west London.
In a statement from Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police said that the five men had been arrested in an operation launched by officers from the force’s Counter-Terrorism Command.
The five were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Ongoing search
The five men are 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50 years old. They were arrested in an armed operation at business premises where searches are continuing.
POPE’S ITINERY IN LONDON
- Event with religious leaders at Twickenham Friday morning
- Resting at Vatican residence, London
- 1600: Lambeth Palace for historic meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury
- 1810: Evening prayer, Westminster Cathedral
Residential premises in north and east London are also being searched. Officers have not found any hazardous items.
It is not clear whether the investigations relate to a plot against the Pope himself or an element of the visit.
In the statement, the force said: “Today’s arrests were made after police received information following initial inquiries by detectives. A decision was made to arrest the five men.
“Following today’s arrests policing arrangements for the papal visit were reviewed and we are satisfied our current policing plan remains appropriate. The itinerary has not changed. There is no change to the UK threat level.”
Policing bill
The UK’s top police officers from England and Scotland spent months planning the security arrangements for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK.
Those plans included threat assessments, standard arrangements covering the safe transport of significant public figures and the potential need to control crowds during the visit’s major events.
In all, the policing bill for the visit is expected to top £1m.
Reacting to the development, Father Frederico Lombardi, the Pope’s press spokesman, said the Vatican was “totally confident” in Scotland Yard and the ability of its officers.
The papal team had no direct information about the police operation. The Pope remained calm and had been welcomed warmly everywhere he had gone, he said.
“The police have already said that the information demonstrated that there is no need to change the programme,” he said.
The BBC’s Emily Buchanan, who was with the Pope at his visit to an assembly of children at a Catholic college in west London, described the security around the Pope as “extremely high… with no lapses”.
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