UK terror swoop: six released

Six men arrested in an anti-terrorism swoop in north-east England have been released without charge by police.

The men were arrested on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act 2000 at addresses in Darlington, County Durham, and in Teesside.

The arrests formed part of a joint operation by neighbouring Durham and Cleveland police officers.

The addresses raided included two kebab shops, one in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool and one in Redcar.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, of Durham Police, who co-ordinated the joint operation, said last night: ‘‘Our terrorism investigation has yet to be completed and our inquiries will continue.’’

Up to 150 officers, including armed police, staged simultaneous raids at the properties and arrested the men, aged between 29 and 46, on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities.

Police said the arrests were not linked to any Irish terrorist groups, the events in America on September 11 or the recent arrests in Leicester.

The arrests were in connection with an investigation into alleged fundraising for Islamic fundamentalist organisations and as part of ‘‘ongoing inquiries into international terrorism’’.