London: British police is arresting ''marginal'' terror suspects in a bid to ''clear the decks'' ahead of the Olympics, the terrorism watchdog has said.
According to The Telegraph, David Anderson, the independent reviewer of terror legislation, said the Games are a ''major target'' for terrorists, and police is intervening in cases than they would normally do.
Anderson said: "The Olympics are potentially a major target and you are seeing the police, perhaps in a marginal case what they might do is decide to intervene a little bit earlier."
Anderson's comments follow a series of arrests by counter-terrorism officers in recent weeks, the report said.
West Midlands Police had arrested seven men after guns and a rudimentary improvised device were found hidden in a car.
The vehicle had been stopped by chance by police for having no insurance, but the discovery was not made until it had been impounded.
It raised the suspicion that a group was planning a plot to carry out attacks.
It has also emerged that a suspected al Qaeda terrorist passed through the Olympic Park on five separate occasions, despite being banned from doing so.
The 24-year-old, who can only be referred to as CF, was arrested for breaching the terms of his an order under the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act, referred to as a ''Tpim''.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the multiple breaches "raise very serious questions about the Home Secretary's judgment in downgrading counter terror powers in Olympic year against expert advice".
ANI
First Published: Monday, July 09, 2012, 13:17