Counter-terrorism police make two arrests in Reading

By: theguardian.com

A 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman are being questioned for a second day after they were arrested in Berkshire on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism in the UK.

Counter-terrorism officers from West Midlands police detained a man in Reading and a woman in Wokingham at 7.30pm on Thursday. The force said the suspects did not pose an imminent threat.

The home addresses of the pair, who are believed to be friends, were searched by officers from the West Midlands force and colleagues in south-east England on Thursday evening.

A West Midlands police spokesman said: “The arrests were intelligence-led and made to safeguard public safety. However, the action taken was pre-planned and police assessed that the pair did not pose any imminent threat.

“The man is from the Palmer Park area of Reading and the woman from Earley in [the borough of] Wokingham.”

Both have been taken to a police station in the West Midlands for questioning. Officers have an initial 48 hours to either charge or release the pair or apply for an extension to custody.

Rob Wilson, the Conservative MP for Reading East, said he had been briefed by police on the arrests.

He told getreading.co.uk: “I’d like to reassure my constituents that the police in Reading are on top of the situation and are working closely with counter-terrorist colleagues from the Midlands.

“Whilst it would not be right for me to comment about this in detail at this stage, I have every confidence in the actions taken so far.”

Read Article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/28/counter-terrorism-police-make-two-arrests-in-berkshire