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Police focus on extremist material after terror raids

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Published Date: 24 January 2007
DAWN SWOOP: Unarmed Scotland Yard officers arrest two in Halifax
Lizzie Murphy, Kate O'Hara, Joanne Ginley, John Roberts
and Robert Sutcliffe

POLICE investigations surrounding the arrests of two men in Halifax under the Terrorism Act were last night focusing on extremist material which could be used to radicalise young people, a security source told the Yorkshire Post.
Metropolitan Police officers who are leading the investigation said yesterday's arrests were part of an unarmed "intelligence-led" operation. Part of the probe is understood to be focusing on computers.
A security source said the arrests concerned the distribution of extremist material used in the "radicalisation" of young people.
The men, aged 25 and 29, were arrested at separate addresses in dawn raids by Scotland Yard's anti-terror police, but are not believed to be involved in any specific plot for further attacks. There are also no known links to the 7/7 bombers.
Police were yesterday searching four addresses in Halifax – Thrum Hall Close, Park View, West Grove Terrace and Royd Terrace – and a flat in north London.
A police spokesman said their efforts were concentrating on computer equipment and documents.
The Metropolitan Police said the arrested men were being held "on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". They were taken to a police station in central London for questioning.
In a separate operation, Greater Manchester Police arrested two 24-year-old men and another aged 32 under the same act in the city early yesterday morning.
They are thought to be connected to the recent disappearance of a terror suspect who had been on a control order.
The British-born man, in his 20s, disappeared while under an order which imposes a type of house arrest on terror suspects.
A spokeswoman for the force confirmed that the operation, which involved four addresses, related to allegations of "aiding and abetting" an offender.
In Halifax, residents spoke of their surprise at the arrests.
A neighbour in Park View said three brothers lived in the house with their family. He said they were all married and there were also children living at the house. "They are a good family, he said. "They are decent people."
Supt Alan Ford, of Calderdale Police, speaking after a community meeting at the Neighbourhood Centre on Queens Road, Halifax, said the searches were carried out in a low-key manner.
"It was not a firearms operation, there was not any forced entry. It was a knock at the door and officers were granted access."
He added that there was nothing to suggest local people were in any danger, but he urged members of the community to remain vigilant .
A special team of council officers is working in the community to ease tension and reassure residents.

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