Man arrested on terrorist charges

8:28am Wednesday 7th May 2008

POLICE from London have arrested a man in Swindon for terrorism offences.

Metropolitan Police officers arrived in town early yesterday to arrest the 51-year-old and serve a warrant under the Terrorism Act.

Scotland Yard said the man, from south London, was arrested at an address he had been staying at in the Swindon area.

He was arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

He was accused of being involved in fundraising for Sri Lankan militant group the Tamil Tigers.

Last night he was being held in custody at a central London police station.

Police would not confirm what part of Swindon the man was staying in but said it was in the town, not surrounding rural areas.

"The arrests are part of a long-term investigation into the alleged funding and procurement activity in support of terrorism overseas," a Scotland Yard statement said. "This investigation is not linked to al Qaida activity."

Chief Supt Paul Howlett, who is in charge of operational policing in Swindon, said: "This was part of a long running investigation into allegations of fundraising for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.

"Metropolitan Police came down and arrested him. There is nothing hugely exciting going on as far as Swindon is concerned.

"The address he was arrested at, and had been staying at, was not thought to be connected to the alleged crimes.

"He was on bail in London and they just came to pick him up."

Supt Kevin Maidment, who is supervising the investigation on behalf of Wiltshire Police, said: "It was in Swindon, but I'm not prepared to say where.

"The Metropolitan Police came down and arrested the person and took them back to London.

"We have not had much real involvement.

"The Met told us what they were doing, then came and got him."

The arrest came after detectives were yesterday granted another eight days to question three men suspected of raising funds for the Tamil Tigers.

The Tigers are a banned terror group which has waged three decades of guerrilla fighting in Sri Lanka.

City of Westminster Magistrates gave police permission to hold the trio, aged 33, 39 and 46, until next Tuesday.

Police staged a series of early morning raids in London and Wales last Tuesday as part of an on-going investigation.

Scotland Yard said two people had previously been charged in connection with the inquiry.

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