Walsall man, 27, held on suspicion of preparing for terrorist act
A man has been arrested in Walsall on suspicion of planning a terrorist act, police said today.
The suspect, who is 27, was held on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
West Midlands Police said the arrest was not connected 'in any way' to the Manchester or London terror attacks.
The suspect is being questioned by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit officers at a police station in the West Midlands.
The force moved to reassure people there was 'no threat' to safety and revealed an address in the borough was currently being searched.
A spokesman said: "The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led; there was no threat to the public’s safety.
"An address in Walsall is subject of an ongoing search."
Police have 48 hours to question the man before releasing him or applying for more time to hold him.
The arrest in Walsall comes after terrorist attacks in London and Manchester left the country shell-shocked.
On May 22 a suicide bomber killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena. After this attack the UK's terror threat level was raised to critical meaning an attack was considered imminent. On May 27 it was lowered back down to severe, meaning an attack remains 'highly likely'.
Just weeks after the Manchester atrocity a van mounted the pavement of London Bridge and was driven into pedestrians. The van crashed and the three male occupants ran to the nearby Borough Market pub and restaurant area, where they stabbed people with long knives.
The incident, which took place on June 3, was the third terror attack in the UK so far this year.
West Midlands Police, who put armed officers on the streets of the region after the Manchester attack, made clear its arrest in Walsall was in no way connected to either of these two terror attacks.
