LONDON, May 9: The widow of Mohammad Sidique Khan, one of the 7/7 bombers is among four people arrested early this morning in connection with the July 2005 attacks, which killed 52 people.
The London Police announced here on Wednesday morning that it has arrested four people aged between 22 and 34, including one woman, on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The police announcement said that the arrested people were taken to a central London police station where they were being kept in custody and would be interviewed by officers from the Met’s Counter-Terrorism Command.
Khan’s widow Hasina Patel, 29, and two men were arrested in West Yorkshire and one man in Selly Oak, Birmingham. Seven addresses are being searched. The three men arrested are also believed to be of Pakistani origin.
According to the police announcement, this was a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation involving MPS and the West Midlands’ officers. Armed officers were not used in this operation.
Since July 7, 2005 detectives have continued to pursue many lines of inquiry both here in the UK and overseas. This remains a painstaking investigation with a substantial amount of information being analysed and investigated, the police announcement said.
Among those arrested was Khalid Khaliq, 34, from the Tempest Road in Beeston -- the street where 7th July Aldgate Tube bomber Shehzad Tanweer lived.
Last month the first people to be charged in connection with the bombings appeared at the Old Bailey in central London.
There was criticism last week of both the police and the security services over their handling of the July 7 attacks, after it emerged that links were missed between two of the suicide bombers and those recently convicted for the fertiliser bomb plot.
MI5 observed Khan, and his deputy, Tanweer, meeting the fertiliser plotter Omar Khyam on numerous occasions in 2004, a year before they detonated their bombs.
It was also claimed that Khan came to the attention of counter-terrorist police five months before the bombings.
A Met spokesman reissued an appeal for information about how the bombers -- Khan, Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussein -- were motivated and financed.
"We need to know who else, apart from the bombers, knew what they were planning. Did anyone encourage them? Did anyone help them with money or accommodation?" the spokesman said.
West Yorkshire police said neighbourhood officers were meeting local people to keep them updated and informed about activity in their areas and to reassure the wider community.
"A police presence will be visible at this location for a number of days," a statement said.
Two other addresses were being searched in Selly Oak.
AFP ADDS: Five houses around the city of Leeds were being searched: two in the Beeston suburb, two in the town of Dewsbury and one in the town of Batley.
A 22-year-old man was arrested in Birmingham, central England, Britain's second city.
Police said they were not prepared to discuss details of those arrested.
