Police have thwarted an alleged imminent terror plot in England with a number of Iranian nationals arrested amid concern about the growing level of Tehran-backed hostile activity in the UK. Five suspects, including four Iranians, were arrested as part of a suspected plan to target “specific premises”, the Metropolitan police said. Of those arrested, the nationality of the fifth was still being established. In a separate investigation, three Iranian nationals were detained in London on suspicion of being involved in threat activity on behalf of Iran, though police said the two sets of high-profile arrests were not linked. Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, described the arrests as “two major operations” that reflected some of the biggest threats “we have seen in recent years” – and while she did not comment directly on whether the incidents were linked to the Iranian state, she noted “it involves Iranian nationals in both investigations”. Investigators from counter-terrorism police and the domestic security service, MI5, feared any planned attack might have taken place soon. Scotland Yard did not reveal the alleged target but it was understood to be in the UK.

Full report : Counter-terrorism police disrupt suspected plot amid concern over rise in Tehran-backed hostile activity.