Neighbours in Rochdale reported hearing a “loud bang” moments before officers stormed the home on East Street. Up to 15 police vans and cars were seen around the area, which remains cordoned off
Armed counter terror police storm home and arrest suspect in Rochdale
This is the dramatic moment armed police stormed a home following a series of counter terrorism raids after cops uncovered a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.
Armed officers were seen walking around the back of a house on East Street, in Rochdale, at around 7pm on Saturday. Neighbours reported seeing a man, who was shirtless, being led out by officers. The video appears to be taken from the upstairs of a house opposite the scene.
Police vans and cars, along with armed officers were spotted at the scene. Neighbours reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ moments before officers stormed the home. Up to 15 police vans and cars were seen around the area, which remains cordoned off.
Images show a broken window and door which appears to have been smashed in, Manchester Evening News reported.
Meanwhile, a second raid took place on Heathbank Road, Cheadle Hulme, on Saturday evening at around 7pm. Police said a 29-year-old man was arrested in the Stockport area.
One neighbour, who works in Malik’s Mini Mart, opposite the property on East Street said: “We heard bangs that sounded like gunshots. There was loads of police vans, forensics. Suddenly hundreds of police here and they were here for hours.”
Another neighbour said: “I was sat in the living room and I heard a bang. I thought the neighbours had dropping something heavy. Then I could hear a ruckus of vehicles. I went for a fag round my back garden when suddenly I see a fully armed police officer cocking a gun. I asked her what’s going in and she said get back inside. Then they just swarmed from both sides.
“I went upstairs to the bedroom and police swarmed. I think they blew the door off – there was that gunpowder smell.
“Then they threw a gas canister in there and raided the house. I heard him screaming. There were police with guns pointing at the window
“Then the Forensic team came and they were combing the garden. It’s quite scary, quite unnerving when it’s so close at hand.”
The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the proactive investigation which resulted in the pre-planned arrests of: a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area; a fifth man in the Manchester area.
All five men were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2006. They remain in custody.
The Met Police also confirmed a further three Iranian men were arrested on Saturday as part of a separate Counter Terrorism operation.
Police said in a statement that Counter Terrorism Policing units had taken three men into custody in London.
Two of the men, aged 39 and 44 respectively, were arrested at separate addresses in north-west London.
A 55-year-old man was also apprehended at a third address, located in west London.
The London trio were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 and remain in custody. Searches continue at the three addresses across London.
In an early-morning statement on Sunday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised Britain’s police and security forces after Saturday’s spate of arrests.
“I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe. Protecting national security is the first duty of Government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work,” she told the PA news agency in a statement.
“These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.
“The Government continues to work with police and intelligence agencies to support all the action and security assessments that are needed to keep the country safe.”