BBC Breakfast was interrupted as host Roger Johnson brought the latest breaking news, which is that police have arrested five men across England on suspicion of terror-related offences.
Roger had been speaking to Phil McCann, who was reporting live from Gateshead after 14 children aged between 11 and 14 were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy in a fire at Fairfield industrial park.
They had been discussing the latest update from the police, who had issued a statement asking members of the public “not to speculate”, when Roger quickly said thank you to Phil and addressed the latest urgent news, instead going to Simon Jones, who was live at Scotland Yard.
Rojer told viewers: “Five men have been arrested at a number of locations across England over a suspected terrorist plot.” He added that no official statements have been made yet about the location of the potential threat, but that investigations “are continuing”.
“Our reporter, Simon Jones, is outside Scotland Yard for us,” handed over the BBC Breakfast star.
Simon then went on to update viewers on the latest situation, saying: “Police are describing their investigation as ‘proactive’.
“They believe a specific site was being targeted, but they haven’t said what that site was for operational reasons, but they say people at the premises have been informed and are being offered support and advice.
“Now the police have made five arrests. They took place in the Greater Manchester Area, here in London and also in Wiltshire. Four of those arrested have been described as Iranian nationals and the police are trying to establish the identity of a fifth man who was arrested in the Manchester area.”
Unverified footage of a swarm of police appeared on the BBC programme, showing armed police at a property believed to be in Rochdale, Manchester, with “a man being seen led from that property”.
Commander Dominic Murphy, who is in charge of counter-terrorism policing, has also released a statement saying: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
“We are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation and to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public.”
Meanwhile, Simon, who was reporting live from Scotland Yard, revealed they had received another statement from the Metropolitan Police overnight.
The statement revealed there had been another separate incident that saw the arrest of three more Iranian nationals.
He explained: “They say that three other Iranian nationals have been arrested here in London in a separate incident and those arrests are not linked to that first investigation but a total of eight arrests being made by counter terrorism officers.”
Returning to Roger back in the BBC Breakfast studio, he added:”Simon, thank you very much. Simon Jones there with the latest on those terror arrests.”
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