Liverpool Echo : Liverpool flats sealed off and searched as police look for Al-Qaeda bomb factory

Liverpool flats sealed off and searched as police look for Al-Qaeda bomb factory

By Ben Rossington | April 10, 2009

ANTI-terror police were today searching a second address in a Liverpool block of flats.

The flats on Highgate Street, Edge Hill, have been sealed off since being raided on Wednesday night as police look for a suspected Al-Qaeda bomb factory.

Their efforts were initially concentrated on one flat inside the crumbling building but the search has now spread to a second address.

Extra officers arrived in the road just after 11.30am today and were seen entering the premises clutching evidence bags. A number of items were removed from Highgate Street yesterday and taken away for analysis.

Police believe by arresting 12 men in Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire they have foiled a potentially major terrorist attack. All the suspects - including the five arrested in Liverpool - were still in custody today.

Further searches at properties in Edge Hill and Toxteth were also continuing.

Greater Manchester Police, who are leading the investigation, today said in the initial stage of the operation on Wednesday, two further men were technically arrested on Merseyside.

However, as soon as their identities were verified they were dearrested. Police said, contrary to some media reports, neither was taken into a police station, held in cells or interviewed for several hours.