Men arrested in west London over suspected links to Hezbollah

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences over alleged links to Hezbollah.

They were detained at separate addresses in London as part of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command into activity both overseas and in the UK of Hezbollah, which is a proscribed organisation under UK counter-terrorism legislation.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at an address in north-west London on Tuesday on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, the Met said.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at a separate address in west London on suspicion of the same offence.

The 39-year-old is also suspected of preparing for acts of terrorism and involvement in a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism, the Met said.

Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Terrorism and terrorists have a global reach and impact and the activities of terrorist groups overseas can harm communities here in the UK as well as causing devastation to those abroad.

“Our investigation remains ongoing, but I hope that these arrests show we will take robust action against anyone here whom we suspect as being involved in terrorist activity regardless of whether their activity is focused here in the UK or elsewhere.”

The two men were taken to a London police station and later released on bail until a date in mid-July, the force said.

Searches were carried out at five addresses – two in north-west London, one in west London, one in south-west London and one in Essex.

The Met added that there was not believed to be any imminent threat to the public.