Two more people have been arrested in connection with an alleged conspiracy to commit arson at a site linked to the Jewish community, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed. A 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man were detained in Watford on Tuesday and remain in custody.
The arrests, carried out by counter-terrorism police, bring the total number of people held in relation to the alleged arson plot to nine over the past four days. The seven previously arrested have been released on bail with strict conditions.
Among those earlier detained were three men aged 24, 26 and 26 arrested in Harpenden on 19 April, and a 25-year-old man arrested in Stevenage. On Monday, a 26-year-old man and two women aged 50 and 59 were stopped in a car near Birmingham.
The latest suspects are believed to have been involved in planning an arson attack at an unspecified venue connected to the Jewish community. The arrests follow a series of firebombings and attempted arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish targets across London since 23 March.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, 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.' She added that one conviction has already been secured and seven others charged.
