Sixth man held as Pope urges 'safe environment' for schoolchildren

Scotland Yard said the suspect, aged 29, was held by officers at a home in north London shortly before 2pm.

A spokesman said he was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Tonight, police were searching eight homes in north and east London and two business premises in central London, including a street cleaning depot.

Five street cleaners were arrested at gunpoint as armed officers swooped on their base as they prepared to start their shift shortly before 6am.

They work for Veolia Environmental Services, a contractor which employs 650 on-street staff to keep the streets of Westminster clean.

Searches of the depot and their homes in north and east London did not reveal any weapons or suspicious materials.

But senior detectives said they were compelled to act after a tip-off about suspicious activity late last night.

The security alert led to a review of the huge police operation surrounding the visit of Benedict XVI, but his itinerary went ahead as planned.

His spokesman said the Pope was informed of the arrests but remained "totally calm" and will continue to enjoy his trip.

The police operation began shortly before 6am at Veolia's Chiltern Street depot, in Marylebone, where staff are responsible for cleaning surrounding streets.

The five suspects, aged 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50, were held on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.

It is understood all five are of North African origin, including several from Algeria.

A huge security and public order operation swung into action yesterday as the Pope touched down in Britain.

Thousands of officers are involved in the operation from forces including the Met, Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, West Midlands and British Transport Police.

The cost of policing the Pope's visit to Britain will exceed 1.5 million and is being coordinated by South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes.

Senior officers said there was no information ahead of the visit to suggest any "specific group" wanted to attack the Pope.

But they warned people not to underestimate the "passion and the fervour" the visit would bring.

Police also interviewed mentally unstable people who they feared may pose a threat to the Pope.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Today's arrests were made after police received information. Following initial inquiries by detectives, a decision was made to arrest the five men.

"Following today's arrests the policing arrangements for the Papal visit were reviewed and we are satisfied that our current policing plan remains appropriate. The itinerary has not changed. There is no change to the UK threat level."

Leith Penny, of Westminster City Council, thanked police for their "swift" action as he said national security is of "critical importance".

He said: "Veolia and Westminster City Council work closely with the relevant authorities to constantly ensure that all the people working on their behalf are subject to right to work checks as prescribed by the Home Office to assess their eligibility to work in the country.

"We are confident that these checks are robust and we will continue to work with the police and other authorities during this investigation."

Father Federico Lombardi, a spokesman for the Vatican, said the Pope was informed of the threat during his visit to St Mary's University College, in Twickenham.

He was 30 minutes late for prayers in St Mary's Chapel, but it is not known if this was because of the unexpected intervention.

Father Lombardi said: "We are totally confident in the work of the police and Scotland Yard. We have no particular preoccupation with this.

"The police have already said that the information that they have collected until now demonstrates there is no need to change anything on the programme of the Pope and the security measures."

A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said: "We have absolute confidence in the security operation to protect both the Pope and the public.

"The Pope is enjoying a wonderful visit, warmly welcomed wherever he goes."

Earlier, the Pope said schools must "provide a safe environment" for children.

In an apparent reference to the abuse scandal, the Pope said teaching should be carried out in an atmosphere of "respectful and affectionate trust".

Speaking at St Mary's University College in Twickenham, south-west London, the Pope said: "I wish to add a particular word of appreciation for those whose task it is to ensure that our schools provide a safe environment for children and young people."

He said the life of faith can "only be effectively nurtured when the prevailing atmosphere is one of respectful and affectionate trust".

"I pray that this may continue to be a hallmark of the Catholic schools in this country.

"Our responsibility towards those entrusted to us for their Christian formation demands nothing less," he said.

"Indeed, the life of the faith can only be effectively nurtured when the prevailing atmosphere is one of respectful and affectionate trust."

He said he prayed that this may continue to be a "hallmark" of Catholic schools in this country.

The Pope was speaking to representatives from a range of religious congregations including the Benedictines, the De La Salle Brothers and the Christian Brothers in the chapel of St Mary's.

Later, the Pope was meeting around 4,000 school pupils and young people.

The "big assembly" gathering, around the running track of the Catholic college, was being streamed live on the internet.

Organisers said all schools were welcome to tune in, with a potential audience of up to a million pupils from Catholic schools in Britain.

The Pope was greeted by raucous cheers as he took to the stage for the event.

The crowd of schoolchildren waved flags and sang as he arrived at the sports field in the Popemobile.

A traditional African hymn was sung as he took his place on a vast red throne.

Pupils then presented the Pontiff with a series of gifts.

The Pope told the congregation, largely involved in education, that he gave "thanks and praise" for the work of the teaching orders who had carried the "light of the Gospel" to far-off lands.

He added that they had often laid the foundations of educational provision long before the state assumed a responsibility for this "vital service" to the individual and to society.

He said education must never be considered as "purely utilitarian" and the task of a teacher was not simply to impart information or to provide training in skills.

"It is about forming the human person, equipping him or her to live life to the full - in short, it is about imparting wisdom," he said.

He added that the life of faith needed to be the "driving force" behind every activity in Catholic schools, in order for the Church's mission to be served effectively.

Earlier the Pope heard a greeting in the chapel from Sister Therese Browne, provincial of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Paul of the Apostle in Selly Park, Birmingham.

She said his presence was a "wonderful blessing" for which they gave thanks to God.

She added that she prayed that the "minds and hearts of those who perceive faith communities to be a destructive force in society may be touched by the truth of your words spoken in love".

"During these very special days, we ask that the healing touch of Christ will be experienced by those who are in pain and those who have been hurt, especially by members of our Catholic community," she added.

The Pope, who presented a framed mosaic of the Madonna del Popolo to the college, later travelled by Popemobile to the running track of the college for a "big assembly" attended by 4,000 schoolchildren and young people.

He was accompanied in the Popemobile by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales.

The Pope made a veiled attack on celebrity culture during his address to the schoolchildren, telling them money and fame was not enough to make them happy.

Addressing the crowd of around 4,000 youngsters, he said: "We live in a celebrity culture and young people are often encouraged to model themselves on figures from the world of sport or entertainment.

"My question for you is this: What are the qualities you see in others that you would most like to have yourselves? What person would you most like to be?"

He invited the children to "become Saints" and not to be content with second-best.

The Pope added: "Having money makes it possible to be generous and to do good in the world, but on its own it is not enough to make us happy.

"Being highly skilled in some activity or profession is good but it will not satisfy us unless we aim for something greater still. It might make us famous but it will not make us happy."

He told them: "The key to it is very simple - true happiness is to be found in God."

The Pope then singled out the world of science, warning that "a scientific outlook becomes dangerously narrow if it ignores the religious or ethical dimension of life".

In his third speech of the day in Twickenham, the Pope called for respect for the "freedom of worship" and the "freedom to follow one's conscience" without suffering persecution.

He said: "When such a respect and openness has been established, peoples of all religions will work together effectively for peace and mutual understanding."

He said there was a need "not only for theological exchange but also for sharing our spiritual rituals".

He continued: "Let me assure you that the Catholic Church follows the path of engagement and dialogue out of a genuine sense of respect for you and your beliefs."