Major Terror Plot Foiled in UK: Seven Iranians Arrested in Dramatic Raids

LONDON, May 5, 2025 — British counter-terrorism forces, alongside elite Special Forces, thwarted a major terrorist attack just hours before it was set to unfold, in what authorities are calling one of the most significant counter-state threats in recent years. Seven Iranian nationals were arrested in a series of coordinated raids across England, dismantling two suspected terror cells linked to the Iranian state, officials confirmed.

The operation, described as “highly significant” by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, targeted properties in Rochdale, West London, Swindon, Stockport, and Manchester on Saturday, May 3. Counter-terrorism police, supported by MI5 and Special Forces, swooped in on the suspects, who were allegedly planning a “major attack” on a specific UK premises that posed an “imminent threat to life.” While the exact target remains undisclosed for operational reasons, speculation has circulated that it may have been a synagogue or a site linked to the Jewish community.

Dramatic footage from Rochdale captured the intensity of the raids, showing armed officers storming a terraced property around 7 p.m. A 40-year-old Iranian suspect was dragged from the house in his underwear, handcuffed, and ordered to the ground. Residents described a scene of chaos, with approximately 30 armed police and Special Forces personnel descending on the area. “The children were out in the garden and came running in, saying there were men with helmets, masks, and guns outside,” said Amy Openshaw, a neighbor. Another resident, Kyle Warren, reported hearing a “massive bang” as officers used explosives to gain entry.

Four of the suspects—aged 29, 29, 40, and 46—were arrested under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. A fifth man, whose nationality is yet to be confirmed, was detained in Manchester under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. In a separate but simultaneous operation, three additional Iranian nationals, aged 39, 44, and 55, were arrested in London under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, suspected of espionage-related activities for a foreign power. Authorities have emphasized that the two investigations are not connected.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command, described the operation as a “fast-moving investigation” still in its early stages. “We are exploring various lines of inquiry to establish any potential motivation and to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public,” Murphy said, urging citizens to remain vigilant.

The arrests come amid heightened warnings about Iranian-backed activities in the UK. MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum recently revealed that the agency had disrupted 20 Iran-backed plots since January 2022, targeting journalists, dissidents, and diaspora communities. “Iran is plotting attacks at an unprecedented pace and scale,” McCallum warned, citing the risk of escalating aggression linked to Middle East conflicts. In March 2024, Iranian-British journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed outside his London home by Eastern European mercenaries allegedly hired by Tehran.

Home Secretary Cooper praised the professionalism of the police and security services, stating, “These were two major operations that reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years.” She acknowledged the involvement of Iranian nationals in both investigations but refrained from directly confirming state sponsorship, noting the complexity of the ongoing probes.

The raids have reignited calls to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, a step the UK government has so far resisted despite a unanimous House of Commons motion in January 2023. Security experts, including Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British military intelligence officer, suggested that elite units like the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) or SAS may have supported the operation, given the national-level threat and hostile state links.

As searches continue at multiple addresses, the Metropolitan Police have notified the targeted premises and are providing support. The UK’s terror threat level remains at “substantial,” indicating an attack is likely. Authorities are working to determine whether the foiled plot had overseas involvement and if any residual risks remain.

17GEN4.com