Four Iranian men who were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack in London can be detained and questioned in custody for another week, police said on Saturday.
Five men were arrested last week, with armed police and in at least one instance special forces soldiers sent in to detain them, with reports suggesting the alleged target was the Israeli embassy in Kensington.
The men arrested include a 29-year-old from Swindon in Wiltshire, a 46-year-old from west London, a 29-year-old from Stockport in Greater Manchester, a 40-year-old from Rochdale, and a 24-year-old from Manchester.
The suspects, all Iranian nationals, were arrested on 3 May on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, the Metropolitan police said.
Four of the men, who were detained under the Terrorism Act, can be held until 17 May after warrants of further detention were granted on Saturday, the force added.
The fifth suspect was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and was released on conditional bail to a date in May.
The Israeli embassy in west London is understood to have been the target of the alleged plot, according to The Times and other press outlets, but police have declined to share further details.
Cmdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, said: “Our officers and staff continue to progress what is a significant and highly complex investigation.
“We are working incredibly hard with public safety at the forefront of our ongoing efforts.
“I would like to ask people to not speculate or share information that has not been confirmed by counter-terrorism policing.
“We have clear and critical reasons for not providing further details at this time.
“As soon as we can, we will look to share further information with the public.”
Murphy said the Met is working closely with local police forces as searches are being carried out at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas.
He added: “As always, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”
In a separate counter-terrorism investigation conducted by the Met, three Iranian men were arrested in north London last weekend under the National Security Act 2023.
Another Iranian man suspected of “foreign power threat activity” was arrested in north London on Friday as part of the same investigation.
