Parsons Green attack: Two more men arrested in Newport over bombing on London Tube train
Five suspects are being questioned by counter-terror police in connection with the attack
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Two further suspects have been arrested in Wales in connection with the attempted bombing on a London Tube train.
A 48-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were arrested under the Terrorism Act after a dawn raid on a property in Newport.
One local businessman, who did not wish to be named, described the raided building as a "halfway house" for asylum seekers that was run by the Home Office.
“The people that live there don't come from around here," he added. "I don't think they've been there for long.”
CCTV footage showed a marked police van, three marked police cars and four unmarked cars pulling up before the raid, with forensics officers dressed in white suits later seen at the property.
It came after another suspect, aged 25, was arrested at a separate address by police on Tuesday evening.
There are now five suspects in custody in relation to the attack, which injured 30 people on a train at Parsons Green station.
Officials said the homemade bomb failed to fully explode, sending a “fireball” hurtling through the packed carriage.
Isis claimed responsibility for the attempted attack, saying it was carried out by “soldiers of the caliphate”.
The first suspect, an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee, was arrested the following day while attempting to board a ferry to France from Dover.
Yahyah Farroukh, a 21-year-old Syrian refugee, was detained outside the chicken shop where he worked in Hounslow on Saturday evening.
Relatives living in Egypt claim he is innocent and “loves the UK”, expressing shock over his arrest.
Farroukh’s brother Hamed told the MailOnline that he did not mix with extremists and was “a good guy”, adding: “He works in a restaurant to make a living. He would not hurt anyone.
“My father, God bless his soul, brought us up to live decently and with high morals. Yahyah has never mingled with bad guys or militants or Daesh [Isis] people.”
The family said they left the Syrian capital of Damascus in 2012 and moved to Egypt, where Farroukh’s father died recently.
Farroukh had travelled to the Netherlands to visit them during the Muslim holy period of Eid, shortly after the death, relatives said.
Both Farroukh and the teenage suspect were fostered by the same couple in Surrey, who were made MBEs for their services to children and families, but Farroukh had since left their home.
The third arrest came in Newport shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, when a 25-year-old man was “jumped” by counter-terror officers.
Nearby resident Sully Ali, 19, a part-time model, told the Press Association: “A big van pulled up and six officers got out and jumped this guy.
“There were two armed officers there, they didn’t have their guns pointed at him but they had them on show.
“The guy was smiling. I didn’t hear him saying anything or the police saying anything to him.”
Mr Ali said the arrested man worked as a painter and decorator for some local residents, while others believed he was a student.
”He was arrested and handcuffed by officers wearing suits,” he added.
“They handcuffed him and led him away, they didn’t put him in the van though – they put him in a marked police car.”
Other residents described the man as a “nice guy” who was well-known in the area, having lived there for several years and attending local mosques.
“He used to condemn terrorism in front of my husband, my husband would condemn terrorism and he would agree with him,” said a mother, who did not want to be named.
“I know he is a Muslim but I don’t know what mosque he went to. Muslims in this area are totally shocked, we condemn terrorism totally and we totally condemn what happened in London.”
The relationship between the man arrested on Tuesday night and the new suspects arrested today was not immediately known as searches at their homes continued.
Scotland Yard said it was being supported by Gwent Police and the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU).
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This continues to be a fast-moving investigation. A significant amount of activity has taken place since the attack on Friday.
“We now have five men in custody and searches are continuing at four addresses. Detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries to determine the full facts behind the attack.
“We anticipate that the searches will take some days to complete and may cause further disruption. However, it is important that we continue with these searches and I’d like to thank all those affected for their support, patience and cooperation.”