A series of early morning arrests at Manchester Airport has seen four people taken in for terrorism offences – only two days after the arrest of a Rochdale councillor’s son.
Four people aged between 22 and 47 were arrested this morning at the airport on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
It follows the arrest of a 30-year-old Rochdale man on Tuesday morning on suspicion of committing the same offence.
Waheed Ahmed, 21, son of Rochdale Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed, was arrested on Tuesday at Birmingham Airport. He was detained in Turkey earlier this month along with eight others after the group allegedly attempted to enter Syria.
Shakil Ahmed, who represents the Kingsway ward in Rochdale, said he had believed his son was in Birmingham on a work placement when he heard that Waheed had been detained in Turkey.
All six, arrested under the ongoing investigations by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, currently remain in police custody for questioning.
Police said this morning that no evidence has been uncovered to suggest any imminent threat to the communities of Rochdale or the UK.
Image courtesy of Edgar Dom, with thanks
