United Kingdom: Police arrest four suspected terrorists Dec. 19

Event

British counter-terrorism police officers launched a series of raids in northern England in the early hours of Tuesday, December 19 (local time). Authorities said that four men suspected of planning terrorist attacks in the country were arrested in Sheffield and Chesterfield. During the raid in Chesterfield, nearby houses were evacuated and a bomb disposal unit was sent into one of the suspects’ home. It is unclear if any explosives were recovered during the operation.

Context

Earlier this month, the British Home Office (interior ministry) announced that nine terror attacks had been foiled since March 2017,  when an Islamist terrorist killed five people in a car-ramming and stabbing attack on London’s Westminster Bridge. In total, some 22 planned Islamist terrorist attacks have been thwarted by British authorities since May 2013. The UK remains at a severe threat level for terrorism, indicating that an attack is deemed highly likely.

Advice

Individuals in the United Kingdom are advised to remain vigilant, avoid areas where investigations or security operations are ongoing, adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities, and report any suspicious objects or behavior to relevant authorities.