ELITE soldiers from the SAS “very likely” helped cops as five men were arrested over a suspected synagogue attack plot, an expert claims.
Counter terror police teams undertook co-ordinated raids at addresses in west London, Rochdale, Swindon, Manchester and Stockport on Saturday evening.
Cops were filmed swarming a house in Rochdale[/caption]
Police on the scene in Rochdale where one of the men was arrested[/caption]
Sources claim a “major attack” was planned on a “specific premises” that could have led to imminent threat to life.
Cops are continuing to question the group of men – four of whom are Iranian nationals – with speculation growing the alleged plot could have been targeting an Israeli or Jewish site as conflict rages on in the Middle East.
Police refused to reveal its location as they continue to investigate the potential risk to lives.
Footage shows the moment the armed officers dramatically swooped on a house in Rochdale before leading out a shirtless man.
Colonel Philip Ingram, who served in British military intelligence, said troopers from the SAS and its sister unit the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) may have been used in the strike operation.
He told MailOnline: “It’s distinctly possible that – with this given a national level of threat and with hostile state links – there could be SRR troops from a surveillance perspective and they could have brought in special forces operatives as a backup team for counter terror police.
“There’s a strong possibility given the multifaceted nature of the threat that counter terror could have been working with UK special forces.”
Col Ingram went on say it was “rare” for the military to be involved in supporting police operations but not unprecedented.
Officials are understood to be treating another plot, which saw three Iranians arrested for spying charges, separately but are probing whether the same entity is behind both schemes.
Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the public was not aware of “how aggressive Iran is willing to be”.
Speaking this morning he said that UK authorities “undoubtedly” need more tools to deal with this particular case.
The use of the internet to organise attacks should be examined “remorselessly,” and people made aware of the full extent of the law.
In recent years Iran has been known to employ criminal proxies to carry out their bidding, often enlisting the help of organised crime gangs coordinated via the internet from Tehran.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the action to foil the plan the “most significant” counter terrorism operation in recent years.
Co-ordinated raids
Armed counter terrorism officers in full gear were filmed as they dramatically swooped on a house in Rochdale, Manchester, later leading out a shirtless man.
Photos have also emerged from Swindon, showing Met Police officers arresting a suspected Iranian terrorist outside a Costa in the town centre.
Plain-clothed cops could be seen searching the man as he lay on his back, with shocked locals watching on from a distance.
Cops said they arrested a 40-year-old from Rochdale on Saturday, along with two 29-year-olds from Swindon and Stockport.
A 46-year-old from West London and a fifth man from the Manchester area were also detained in the crackdown.
All five are still in custody. Four are Iranian nationals while the fifth’s nationality hasn’t been revealed.
Three more Iranian men were arrested in London on the same day as part of a separate operation.
They were arrested under an Act which allows cops to detain those suspected of being “involved in foreign power threat activity”.
This totals eight arrests across the two investigations.
The scale of the pre-planned raids gives an indication of the level of threat the plot could have caused, The Sun understands.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.
“‘We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
The Israeli Embassy in London is yet to comment.
The Sun has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.
Do you know more? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk