20/04/2004

Man Utd dismisses terror target speculation

Manchester United football club has dismissed reports suggesting that Old Trafford may have been a target for suicide bombers.

The club spoke out after news reports linked yesterday's massive anti-terror swoops by police with a possible suicide bomb attack on the Man Utd home ground.

Assistant Chief Constable David Whatton, quoted on the official Manchester Utd website, said that speculation about specific target sites was "extremely unhelpful".

Police are still questioning nine men and one woman who were arrested during raids at a number of addresses in England yesterday morning.

Seven of those arrested, including the woman, were detained in the Greater Manchester area, three others were held following raids in Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

Police confirmed the arrests were made under the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Dave Whatton said yesterday that the raids were conducted as part of an "ongoing operation related to the threat of terrorism".

He added that those arrested were believed to be of Iraqi Kurd and North African origin.

The raids co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Police involved some 400 police officers from four police forces, some of whom are understood to belong to the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad.

The search operations are expected to continue today.

(gmcg)

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