Counter Terror police arrest six suspected terrorists who worked as local street cleaners for planning to assassinate the Pope; unfazed pope goes ahead with his plans
Counter Terror police arrest six suspected terrorists who worked as local street cleaners for planning to assassinate the Pope; unfazed Pope goes ahead with his plansThe police arrested six street cleaners in a dawn raid yesterday, after receiving information that they were plotting to harm the Pope.
The men were arrested during raids at 5.45am at a rubbish depot in central London. The arrests were based on an intelligence tip-off.
Initially, five suspects aged 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50 were arrested by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command, on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism acts.
The depot where they worked is less than a mile away from Hyde Park where the Pope was slated to hold a prayer vigil in the evening.
Westminster City Council said the men worked for Veolia Environmental Services, a contractor which employs 650 on-street staff to keep Westminster's streets clean and free from rubbish.
The men have been taken to a central London police station where they will be interrogated.
Searches are being carried out under the Terrorism Act 2000 at the rubbish depot and at residential premises in north and east London.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the arrests had been made after they received "information" and added, "Following initial inquiries by detectives, a decision was made to arrest the five men."
Pope Benedict XVI's security arrangements were reviewed following the arrests.
Unaffected"We are satisfied that our current policing plan remains appropriate. The itinerary has not changed," said Scotland Yard.
The Pope continued with his engagements, unaffected by the developments.
The Pope has been informed of the arrests, Vatican spokesman Fr Lombardi said.
He told reporters there was "no need to change anything about the programme with the Pope and the security for this trip".
"The Pope is calm and happy and we go on with this trip with courage and joy," he added.
"We are totally confident in the work of the police and Scotland Yard."
A multi-million-pound operation is in place to protect the Pope during his tour of Scotland, London and the West Midlands, with thousands of officers involved.
He often travels in the Popemobile, which has a bulletproof glass enclosure.
A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said, "The Pope is enjoying a wonderful visit, warmly welcomed wherever he goes."
Singing his praisesSinger Susan Boyle's dream of singing in front of the Pope came true after she marked the end of his open-air mass in Scotland. Boyle performed three songs as part of a special mass to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Scotland. Boyle sang I Dreamed a Dream and hymn How Great Thou Art.
