Fairway or driveway? The furious debate over building houses on golf courses
Protests erupt over plans to build homes on Enderby Golf Course
BBC News1 min read
Two more arrested in Watford on suspicion of plotting arson attack on Jewish venue
TL;DR
Two more men have been arrested in Watford for allegedly plotting an arson attack on a Jewish venue, bringing the total number of arrests to nine. The arrests were made by counter-terrorism police investigating the conspiracy.
Key points
- Two men arrested in Watford for alleged arson plot
- Total of nine arrests related to the conspiracy
- Counter-terrorism police are investigating
- Seven individuals released on bail with conditions
- Teenager pleaded guilty to a separate synagogue arson
Mentioned in this story
WatfordBirminghamMetropolitan Police
Two further arrests have been made in relation to an alleged conspiracy of an arson attack on a site connected to the Jewish community, the Metropolitan police have said.
The latest arrests, made by counter-terrorism police investigating the alleged arson conspiracy, were of a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man. They were detained in Watford on Tuesday and remain in custody.
Nine people have now been detained in relation to the same alleged arson conspiracy in the last three days.
The seven arrested have been released on bail, with strict conditions. These include three men arrested in Harpenden on 19 April aged 24, 26 and 26. A 25-year-old man was also arrested in Stevenage. A 26-year-old man and two women aged 50 and 59 were detained in a car near Birmingham on Monday in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
Separately, a teenager pleaded guilty on Tuesday to an arson attack on a synagogue on Saturday night.
The two new people arrested are suspected of being involved in planning an arson attack at an unknown venue related to the Jewish community.
The senior national coordinator of counter-terrorism policing, Vicki Evans, said: “Our investigations continue at pace, and we are continuing to identify and arrest suspects who we believe were involved [in], or planning, the recent arson attacks in north-west London.
“We’ve now had the first conviction in relation to this recent spate of arson attacks and seven others have been charged. We remain determined to identify, arrest and charge all those who have been involved in the recent criminal activity.
“My message to anyone even considering getting involved in this type of activity is this: the stakes are high and it is absolutely not worth the risk.”
The arrests by counter-terrorism officers follow firebombings or attempted arson of synagogues and other Jewish targets across London.
These attacks started on 23 March, when ambulances run by a Jewish charity were set alight in Golders Green, north London. Then in April, there were attacks or attempted attacks on a charity, synagogues, and an Iranian dissident media outlet.
Additional reporting by PA Media
Q&A
What are the details of the arson conspiracy in Watford?
The conspiracy involves an alleged plot to commit arson on a site connected to the Jewish community, with nine arrests made in total.
Who were the latest individuals arrested in connection with the arson plot?
The latest arrests include a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both detained in Watford by counter-terrorism police.
What happened to the individuals previously arrested for the arson conspiracy?
Seven of the previously arrested individuals have been released on bail with strict conditions, while a teenager pleaded guilty to a separate arson attack on a synagogue.
