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Thursday, Jun 28, 2012 3:15 PM UTC

APNewsbreak: 2 terror suspects arrested in London

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Topics: From the Wires,

LONDON (AP) — Two Muslim converts were arrested in London on suspicion of terror offenses Thursday, a British security official told The Associated Press, but it was unclear whether the men were taken into custody as part of an alleged plot.

The official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said he didn’t know whether the arrests were related to the upcoming Olympic Games. Security is tight ahead of the London games, which begin on July 27.

Scotland Yard identified the men as an 18-year-old and a 32-year-old, but didn’t give their names. The force said the pair was arrested early Thursday at separate addresses in east London.

Intelligence officials say there has been an expected increase in chatter among extremist groups but there are still no specific or credible threats. The terror level is labeled substantial, a notch below severe, and what it has been for much of the past decade. A substantial threat level indicates that an attack is a strong possibility.

This week European security officials told the AP that they were tracking a Norwegian Muslim convert who had gone to Yemen for training and had since become “operational.”

Security services across Europe have long been alert to the activities of extremist Muslim converts.

Richard Reid, who tried to blow himself up aboard a trans-Atlantic flight, was a convert. So, too, was Jermaine Lindsay, one of four suicide bombers in London’s 2005 attacks. The coordinated bombings killed 52 people — just one day after London won the bid for the Olympics.

In 2010, two German converts to Islam and two Turkish men were convicted over a foiled plot to attack U.S. targets in Germany.

Paisley Dodds

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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