WHATS HAPPENING!!!

Senior security sources have told the BBC the raids were targeting a kidnap plot rather than one aimed at causing mass casualties.

The six-month operation involved the Midlands counter terrorism unit, West Midlands Police and the Met Police.

It was not necessarily a government official and not necessarily someone high profile but a certain type of individual was possibly the target of a kidnapping The BBC's Gordon Corera

BBC correspondent Gordon Corera said the plot was thought to involve "some kind of kidnapping - possibly of an individual".

"It was not necessarily a government official and not necessarily someone high profile but a certain type of individual was possibly the target of a kidnapping," he added.

A kidnapping would mirror tactics employed by terrorists in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, where videos of hostages have also been made.

Finding evidence to back up the suspicions was "key" to the inquiry now, he added.

Security sources said a terror plot not aimed at mass casualties would mark "a different approach to terrorism in the UK".

At least four addresses in Birmingham were targeted as part of the 0400 GMT raids.

Two houses in the Alum Rock area, as well as the Khan General Store in Jackson Road, were raided.

The Maktabah book store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill, which is believed to sell Islamic literature, was also raided.

Police have cordoned off roads around Jackson Road and Foxton Road, in Alum Rock, and Poplar Road and Stratford Road, in Sparkhill.

Baswant Kant, who lives in Stratford Road, near the junction with Poplar Road, said about 55 police officers "turned up in white vans" in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

"They went into shops and restaurants along the road - a lot of people got arrested," he said.

Mohamed Barber told BBC News his cousin was one of the men arrested in Alum Rock.

"We can vouch for him he is innocent. He doesn't even have time to go to Friday prayers - that's how busy he is," he added.

And Sparkhill man Saqib Hussain told BBC News he had visited the raided book shop many times and "had never seen any suspicions of terrorist activity".

Vehicles, including a white Transit van, have been removed from Alum Rock.

Public co-operation

The eight are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

The Home Office said Home Secretary John Reid had been fully briefed.

"This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face," a spokeswoman said.

In a statement, West Midlands Police asked for the "continued support and co-operation of the public".

"Our message to people living in the West Midlands is to remain vigilant," the statement added.

The raided houses are now being searched by officers.

Story from BBC NEWS

at the moment it is difficult to appreciate and believe anything we read and hear in the media. We pray and hope that these people are innocent, and this raid is just 'ANOTHER MISTAKE'

The laws of "The commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism" and those under "The Terrorism Bill which outlaws glorification of terrorism, incitement to terrorism, acts preparatory to terrorism " are quite far reaching and probs the most toughest laws in any country in the western world - I think USA aint even got anything similar.

Basically they can arrest you for anything which they feel even remotely links you with anything along them lines. The glorification one is quite bad if you think about it as if they interpreter you (by words or actions) as glorifying any so called acts anywhere on the world even Palestine they can bang you up.

Think the UK Guardian newspaper raised this when this first went through parliament as Cherie Blair (the MP's wife) was quoted as saying she sympathised with Palestinians even those who carry out suicide bombings. Which goes to show how legally one defines glorification - which leads to fears amongst muslims and other human right groups/lawyers that such a law can/will be abused by the powers that be.

you may as well get used to it.
many more raids will yet take place here in england.

the lime light is on us muslims and will remain on us for a long while.

you will hear all sorts of accusations which is automatically related to terrorism.

its nothing new.

insha'allah, it will be proven innocent and the west will look stupid once again.

Of these 925 only 23 have been convicted of offences under the Terrorism Act (roughly 2.5% i think of the total arrested)