Woman shot, 6 arrested in UK terror raids

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

Police officers shot one woman and detained 6 other individuals Thursday evening in anti-terror raids in London and Kent, according to police.

The woman in her twenties was shot after officers entered an address in North West London, the Metropolitan Police, responsible for the Greater London area, said in a statement.

She was hospitalized and was in "serious but stable" condition, the statement said.

It added that a man and a woman -- both 20 years old -- as well as a 16-year-old boy were held near the same address, while another 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent.

“Two further arrests were made when a man and a woman - both aged 28 - returned to the address [at Willesden] later last night,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said in a Friday morning statement.

The suspects are held at a South London police station "on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts", according to the statement.

The operations were not related to an earlier arrest made near Downing Street after the discovery of knives carried in a rucksack during a stop-and-search as part of an intelligence-led operation, police said.

“Given the horrors in London of a few short weeks ago – and our thoughts are still with the victims and survivors of that dreadful day,” Basu said.

“I wanted to reassure the public that our increased activity to combat terrorism over the last two years continues - both by police and security services,” he added.

The level of terror threat in the U.K. is severe following the March 22 attack by Khalid Masood, who killed 4 civilians and a police officer on Westminster Bridge and outside the parliament building.

"After that attack, we increased the number of officers on duty patrolling at key locations - and that continues as we police against the backdrop of a severe terrorist threat," the deputy assistant commissioner said.