Men released after terror arrests

BBC
Aug. 27, 2005

Three men arrested by police in Newport under the Terrorism Act have been released without charge.

The men, from Newport, were arrested under anti-terrorism powers on Chepstow Road in the city on Thursday afternoon and held overnight.

Gwent Police said on Friday that after extensive inquiries, it was established that no offences had been committed.

Security has been heightened in Newport ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers there next month.

'Current threat'

In a statement, the force added that the men were arrested after police received information of suspicious activity in Chepstow Road.

The statement said that officers "responded swiftly to the information in light of the current terrorist threat".

Security is tight in the Newport area ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers due to take place at the Celtic Manor Resort near the city early next month.

The meeting is taking place as part of the UK's year-long presidency of the EU.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Celtic Manor Resort said that the arrests had been made on a road nearby but that it was not within the resort.

He added: "We are on a really high alert anyway and there are a lot of police around with sniffer dogs.

"They've been here for weeks because we are hosting the event.

"We couldn't be any tighter with security than we are now."