UK police detain 5 in terrorism inquiry involving France, BelgiumApril 15, 2016 - 14:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - British police said they had arrested five people on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism as part of an investigation which had involved Belgian and French authorities to address any threat to Britain after the Paris and Brussels attacks, Reuters reports. Police said three men and a woman had been arrested in Birmingham, central England, on Thursday, April 14 and another man was held at London's Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Friday. "The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no risk to the public at any time and there is no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being planned," Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale from West Midlands Police said in a statement. "This action forms part of an extensive investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, together with the wider counter terrorism network, (domestic spy agency) MI5 and international partners including Belgian and French authorities to address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe." British media have reported that a Belgian man, suspected of involvement in last month's Islamic State attacks in Brussels, had traveled to Birmingham last year and taken photos of a soccer stadium. On March 22, two suicide bombers blew up suitcase bombs at Brussels airport before a third struck a metro train in the city. Thirty-two people were killed. Photo: EPA Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |