Ten men, suspected of links with al Qaeda, have been arrested in the UK after a series of terror raids prompted by a security blunder.
Sources said the raids in the north west of England were brought forward after Britain's most senior counter-terrorism chief, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, was pictured clutching sensitive documents as he arrived in Downing Street.
Among a large bundle of papers under his arm was a white document clearly marked ‘secret’ and carrying an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terrorism operation.
The information included the names of several senior officers, locations and details about the nature of the overseas threat.
Tonight Mr Quick apologised to Metropolitan Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. He said he ‘deeply regretted’ leaving the document on show.
Just hours after the embarrassing leak, police launched a major operation.
Police from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside forces were involved in the swoops.
Arrests were made at addresses in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, John Moores University, Liverpool, and Clitheroe in Lancashire.
Police and MI5 were said to be working closely together on the investigation. A British government source said: ‘We are keeping an open mind about what we are dealing with.’
