Police arrest 4 for plotting British terror attack

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- British police arrested four men Tuesday on suspicion they were plotting a terror attack, authorities said.

West Yorkshire police said the plans for the attack were already at an advanced stage and connected to a Christmas target.

Officials said the four men, between ages 21 and 41, were arrested following searches in Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Residents of a home in Chesterfield were evacuated after the bomb technicians were called.

"I understand our local communities will have concerns about this morning's police activity but I want to offer my reassurance that we will continue to serve and protect the public of South Yorkshire," Supt. Una Jennings, of South Yorkshire police, said.

"We work very closely with our colleagues at the north-east counter-terrorism unit and we will ensure we maintain these strong links in order to provide a high level of service and delivery to everyone in our community. Public safety is our utmost concern."

British authorities are already on high alert. Earlier this month, MI5 director Andrew Parker and police chiefs warned that the terrorist threat in Britain was at an unprecedented level -- with 10 terror plots having been disrupted since March.

On Dec. 6, a man was charged with terrorism involving a plot to assassinate British Prime Minister Theresa May.