Police Detain Six at Manchester Airport
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that six people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigations by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit.
A spokesperson for the force said, “In the early hours of Tuesday 14 April 2015, a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of CPI Section 40 (1) (b) TACT 2000 (Commission, Preparation or Instigation of acts of Terrorism) at Birmingham Airport.
A 31-year-old man was arrested for the same offence in the Rochdale area. They remain in custody for questioning.
Further, in the early hours of today, four people aged between 22 and 47 were arrested on suspicion of Preparation or Instigation of acts of Terrorism at Manchester Airport. All six remain in police custody for questioning.”
An investigation was launched after nine people were stopped by Turkish authorities at the Turkey and Syria border.
The five adults and four children are from the same family and currently living in Rochdale.
The spokesperson added, “Officers are working to establish their reason for travel and apparent attempted entry into Syria. As part of investigation a number of houses in the Rochdale borough were searched. No evidence was uncovered to suggest any imminent threat to the communities of Rochdale or the U.K.
“Officers continue to work closely with Rochdale Borough Council, local partners, and faith leaders as part of the ‘Prevent’ initiative.”
In addition, a 25-year-old man from Yardley Wood area of Birmingham has been arrested on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences. He was detained by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit at an address in Billesley in Birmingham.
