Two men arrested for terrorism offences in west London - not linked to Liverpool hospital bomb

Two men have been arrested in west London by specialist anti-terrorism officers.

Scotland Yard confirmed that two men, aged 19 and 21, were arrested and detained on Tuesday for terrorism offences.

The Met said “there was not believed to be any immediate threat posed to the public” by the pair.

Police are continuing to search the address in west London.

This comes after the UK’s terror threat level was increased to severe, following a bomb explosion in a taxi outside a Liverpool hospital on Remembrance Sunday.

The force have said that the arrests were not linked to the Liverpool attack.

Commander Richard Smith, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Based on enquiries by detectives so far, there was not believed to be any immediate threat posed to the public, and those arrested remain in custody.

“We are all aware that the UK National Threat Level has been raised from substantial to severe following events in Merseyside and we need to work together to defeat terrorism.

“The public as always, are our eyes and ears and nothing should stop you from reporting suspicions to the police.

“Every day, teams within the Met and across Counter Terrorism Policing nationally proactively investigate, identify and target those we suspect of being involved in terrorism.

“If you see or hear something in the course of your everyday life that doesn’t seem right, please trust your instincts and report it, as your information could be the key to stopping terrorist activity.”

Scotland Yard told LondonWorld that police patrols in London have been enhanced following the attack on Sunday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, from UK counter terror police, said: “The threat level moving to severe means it is highly likely a terrorist attack could happen in the UK.

“The increased threat level activates an enhanced police response that is tried and tested, to ensure that the UK is well prepared and protected.

“Some of this will be visible and involve police officers being deployed to certain places, events and locations, which the public can expect to see over the coming days.

“We will begin to increase the focus of our visible patrols, and implement other security and protection measures.”

LondonWorld understands this will include policing in the capital - which has been the subject of eight terrorist attacks in the last five years.

The threat level was raised by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), part of MI5, which makes recommendations to the government.

Severe is the second highest alert level below critical.

Dep Asst Commissioner Twist, who is a senior national coordinator with the counter terror squad, added: “This incident has been formally declared as terrorism, and the investigation is continuing apace.

“I want to make clear that the change is a precautionary measure and not based on any specific threat. Whilst we want the public to remain alert, they should not be alarmed by this change.

“We have seen in recent weeks two incidents declared as terrorism – the murder of Sir David Amess MP in October, and the incident we saw take place in Liverpool yesterday.

“Whilst there is absolutely nothing to suggest any link between these incidents, the fact that two terror attacks have happened in relatively quick succession will have contributed to the intelligence picture that is continually being assessed, and subsequently has led to the threat level increasing at this time.

“The threat level is designed to inform the public, and guide the level of response by police and other agencies who lead on public safety and national security.

“I want the public to know that officers will continue to work day and night to protect them against the threat of terrorism.”