Three arrested in dramatic undercover police take-down in Leeds city centre

Officers, some in balaclavas, swooped on a car on Wellington Street in a pre-planned operation into what they said was an ongoing investigation into “serious crime”.

Witnesses described seeing officers storm out of unmarked cars before smashing the windows of the Renault Clio. Three people were dragged out and had their wrists bound.

West Yorkshire Police has refused to disclose the nature of the suspected crime – but has dismissed rumours it was terrorism-related.

Supt Pat Casserly, from the force’s protective services department, said: “At 1.42pm three people were arrested from a vehicle on Wellington Street in Leeds city centre as part of a pre-planned operation.

“Two men, aged 36 and 27, and one woman, 24, were arrested from a blue coloured Renault Clio vehicle and remain in police custody.

“The arrests form part of ongoing investigation into serious crime and there was no danger to people in the immediate area. No further details are expected to be released.”