Freeze on terror plotters’ assets
The government has frozen the assets of 19 people connected with the plot to blow up several passenger planes mid-air.
The Bank of England received instructions from the Treasury to take the action early on Friday, following advice from the police and security services.
Twenty-four people are being questioned by police in connection with the plot, which has been described as an attempt to commit “mass murder on an unimaginable scale”.
The men arrested following raids at addresses in London, High Wycombe and the West Midlands are said to include one of the “main players” involved in the plot.
Ed Balls, economic secretary to the Treasury, said: “On the advice of the police and security services, the Treasury has instructed the Bank of England to issue notice to effect a freeze of the assets of a number of individuals arrested in yesterday’s operations, under the terms of the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001.
“This makes it a criminal offence to make these persons’ funds available to any person, except under the authority of a licence issued by the Treasury.
“Accounts held by them with UK financial institutions are in effect frozen until further notice. The Treasury will review the need for further use of our asset-freezing powers as we receive further advice from the police and security services.”
The Bank of England, which named the men, who are aged between 17 and 35, added: “Financial institutions and other persons are requested to check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise hold any funds, other financial assets, economic benefits and economic resources for the individuals named . and, if so, they should freeze the accounts or other funds and report their findings to the Bank of England.”
The UK threat level remains critical following news of the planned attack, which is thought to have involved blowing up ten planes flying from the UK to the United States.
