Terrorism suspect held after raid

LONDON – Hundreds of anti-terrorist police – some in biochemical suits – raided a house in east London Friday and arrested two men, shooting and wounding one of them.

The raid was one of the largest in the capital since bombings of London’s transport network in July killed 52 people. Police said they do not believe the suspected new threat was linked to those attacks.

Police did not release full details of the operation but British media reported that authorities suspected that a chemical weapon had been built at the house for use against a British target.

Police did say that officers had not discovered any weapon or device.

Peter Clarke, head of the anti-terrorist branch of London’s Metropolitan Police, said the raid had been in response to information about a threat from firearms or “hazardous substances.”

Some of the roughly 300 officers in the raid wore protective chemical, biological and radiological suits.

A 23-year-old suspect was shot in the shoulder and was undergoing hospital treatment. It was unclear if he had been armed. Neighbors said he worked as a letter-carrier and driver for Britain’s postal service.

The other suspect, 20, was held on suspicion of terrorism and questioned at a high-security police station.

Neighbors said the arrested men were British-born Muslim brothers.

Clarke said the raid followed work by police and MI5 – Britain’s domestic spy agency – that “demanded an intensive investigation and response.”

Witnesses Friday said police quietly moved into the area before dawn. They later described seeing a man in a bloodstained T-shirt being carried out of the house.

“I saw loads of police in special uniforms coming out of the van. They had special gloves and special equipment,” said Dimple Hirani, 21.