In a major development, detectives have apprehended six individuals linked to a scheme aimed at disrupting operations at the London Stock Exchange. This comes after the Daily Express provided crucial information to the Metropolitan Police on Friday, 12 January.
The plot, allegedly orchestrated by members of the Palestine Action group, was intended to strike the London Stock Exchange on the morning of Monday, 15 January. The plan involved causing property damage and employing ‘lock-on’ tactics to block the opening of the trading facility.
The initial arrest occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 14 January, when a 31-year-old man was taken into custody in Liverpool by Met officers, in coordination with the Merseyside Police, on suspicion of conspiring to cause criminal damage.
Subsequently, on the same day, five more individuals, believed to be co-conspirators in the same plot, were detained. Arrests include a 29-year-old woman in Albert Road, Brent; a 23-year-old man in Voss Street, Tower Hamlets; two women, aged 28 and 26, in Liverpool; and a 27-year-old man in Brighton.
All six individuals are currently being held in custody as the investigation continues.
Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas said: “These are significant arrests. We believe this group was ready to carry out a disruptive and damaging stunt which could have had serious implications had it been carried out successfully.
“I’m grateful to the Express for their willingness to provide the information gleaned from their own investigation. It was instrumental in helping us intervene successfully.
“Having only been provided with the material on Friday afternoon we had limited time to act.
“It is thanks to the determined efforts from our Public Order Crime team and our colleagues in Merseyside that we were able to identify, locate and arrest those we suspect to be involved in this plot.
“Mindful of the suggestion that this was one part of a planned week of action, we are in contact with the City of London Police as well as other forces across the UK to ensure that appropriate resources are in place to deal with any disruption in the coming days.”
