Students scared by terror arrests drama

Two men were arrested on suspicion of being involved in an alleged terror bomb plot yesterday, after a wave of fear and panic gripped the students watching from inside the JMU Library.

Armed police swooped at the Aldham Robarts Resource Centre as the two men, who were who were later identified as JMU students, were stunned with a taser gun and held on the floor with weapons aimed at their heads. Terrified students inside were told to keep away from the glass windows of the library as the drama unfolded.

Despite being reassured via loudspeaker that everyone in the library was safe, tensions were running high as the fear of an imminent explosion worried students, with false rumours spreading that those detained were carrying chemical weapons.

As the arrests took place, Amy Hannigan, a 21-year-old second year History student, said: “It’s so scary. A friend of mine just left five minutes ago... I don’t know if he’s OK or where he is. What if? I don’t know if I should call my mum. It would just worry her.”

There were more than a hundred students and staff members in the building during the alarming episode.

Staff members said that they were told by police that they had been following the arrested men for about three weeks. It wasn’t until later that the reason for this very public arrest was made clear. It was part of a major counter-terror operation that was brought forward after Bob Quick, Britain's most senior counter-terrorism police officer, was caught on camera with the ‘Top Secret’ files. This compromised surveillance procedures and he quit his position today, following a series of raids and arrests in Liverpool, Manchester and the north west of England.

Johnny Thomson, a 23-year-old third year Business student, said: “It was exciting, in a scary way, but so bizarre. I mean, those were big guns! It’s Liverpool, you don’t expect that here... New York, London, but certainly not Liverpool!”

The arrested men were taken away in unmarked vehicles around 5.50pm and students were asked to remain in the library while police collected evidence. Students were allowed to leave at 6.15pm.