ELITE soldiers from the SAS "very likely" helped cops as five men were arrested over a suspected synagogue attack plot, an expert claims.
Counter terror police teams undertook co-ordinated raids at addresses in west London, Rochdale, Swindon, Manchester and Stockport on Saturday evening.
Sources claim a "major attack" was planned on a "specific premises" that could have led to imminent threat to life.
Cops are continuing to question the group of men detained - four of whom are Iranian nationals - with speculation growing the alleged plot could have been targeting an Israeli or Jewish site as conflict rages on in the Middle East.
Police refused to reveal its location as they continue to investigate the potential risk to lives.
Footage shows the moment the armed officers dramatically swooped on a house in Rochdale before leading out a shirtless man.
Colonel Philip Ingram, who served in British military intelligence, said troopers from the SAS and its sister unit the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) may have been used in the strike operation.
He told : "It's distinctly possible that - with this given a national level of threat and with hostile state links - there could be SRR troops from a surveillance perspective and they could have brought in special forces operatives as a backup team for counter terror police.
"There's a strong possibility given the multifaceted nature of the threat that counter terror could have been working with UK special forces."
Col Ingram went on say it was "rare" for the military to be involved in supporting police operations but not unprecedented.
Officials are understood to be treating another plot, which saw three Iranians arrested for spying charges, separately but are probing whether the same entity is behind both schemes.
Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the public was not aware of "how aggressive Iran is willing to be".
Speaking this morning he said that UK authorities "undoubtedly" need more tools to deal with this particular case.
The use of the internet to organise attacks should be examined "remorselessly," and people made aware of the full extent of the law.
In recent years Iran has been known to employ criminal proxies to carry out their bidding, often enlisting the help of organised crime gangs coordinated via the internet from Tehran.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the action to foil the plan the "most significant" counter terrorism operation in recent years.
Armed counter terrorism officers in full gear were filmed as they dramatically swooped on a house in Rochdale, Manchester, later leading out a shirtless man.
Photos have also emerged from Swindon, showing Met Police officers arresting a suspected Iranian terrorist outside a Costa in the town centre.
Plain-clothed cops could be seen searching the man as he lay on his back, with shocked locals watching on from a distance.
Cops said they arrested a 40-year-old from Rochdale on Saturday, along with two 29-year-olds from Swindon and Stockport.
A 46-year-old from West London and a fifth man from the Manchester area were also detained in the crackdown.
All five are still in custody. Four are Iranian nationals while the fifth's nationality hasn't been revealed.
Three more Iranian men, aged 39, 44 and 55, were arrested in London on the same day as part of a separate operation.
By Ethan Singh
INCREDIBLE footage shows the rare moment special forces' helicopters carried out secret drop drills outside Tesco last week.
Soldiers were seen rappelling down from two dark blue and white choppers in what appeared to be a training exercise in Baguley, Manchester.
The helicopters had no tail numbers which means it is highly likely that the aircraft is Special Forces, belonging to the SAS or SBS.
Footage captured by locals showed the two choppers flying extremely low over a nearby Tesco and surrounding buildings.
A rope was then dropped down out of the side before a number soldiers began rapidly descending onto the rooftop in expert fashion.
The special forces pilots were carrying out a counter-terror training exercise next to the supermarket, The Sun understands.
Six figures wearing black clothing were counted abseiling down as the helicopters whirred overhead.
Stunned shoppers watched on as the unique drills were carried out in broad daylight.
The figures then pulled the ropes from the helicopters, allowing them to fly off at speed.
A second exercise was carried out in Manchester's Media City.
Other residents shared videos on social media of the two choppers flying around South Manchester.
Viewers on TikTok and other social media sites speculated that the choppers were part of 'Blue Thunder' - the name given to Eurocopter Dauphin II helicopters.
While not officially named by the military, the term Blue Thunder has become informally associated with the SAS's use of fast, stealthy helicopters.
These are often painted in dark or matte tones for urban assault scenarios, much like the choppers in the video.
The secretive helicopters do not show up on flight apps as its transponder is usually switched off or scrambled to help hide its location.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “UK military personnel train in a variety of locations to ensure they are ready for a broad spectrum of scenarios.”
It comes as sightings have taken place in the north west England area in recent days.
Just a day before the choppers were spotted in Baguley, a similar scene unfolded in Media City in Salford.
Military helicopters were seen circling overhead before at least one landed on the roof of a car park at around 11.30pm.
There were also reports of individuals "roping down", according to the local paper.
One witness told MEN: "We had three or four Blue Thunder helicopters circling around Media City and landing on the car park next to Premier Inn.
"Quite unexpected in the middle of the night. There was also a lot of crew with gear on and ropes."
Blue Thunder helicopters are coloured white on the base and dark blue on the top and is flown by 658 Squadron Army Air Corps.
A Blue Thunder chopper was spotted landing near London Bridge after the 2017 Borough Market terror attack when eight innocent victims were murdered.
Nearby offices, including The Sun, went into lockdown as the area was sealed off.
The first two were detained at properties in north-west London and third from another address in west London.
Searches also continue at the three addresses across London.
They were arrested under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023 and remain in custody, a police statement said.
It allows cops to detain those suspected of being "involved in foreign power threat activity".
This totals eight arrests across the two investigations.
The scale of the pre-planned raids gives an indication of the level of threat the plot could have caused, The Sun understands.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: "This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
"The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
"We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.
"'We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I'd like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support."
The Israeli Embassy in London is yet to comment.
The Sun has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.
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By Ethan Singh
The Special Air Service (SAS) has its origins in the North African desert.
It was formed as L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, in July 1941 to undertake small-scale raids behind enemy lines, according to the .
The new unit initially drew its men from No 7 and No 8 Commando.
Later, troops from No 62 Commando (aka the Small Scale Raiding Force) joined the unit.
In October 1942, the unit was renamed 1st Special Air Service.
The following April it was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron and undertook raids in Sicily and Italy alongside the 2nd Special Air Service, which came into existence in May 1943 in Algeria.
The brigade’s formations took part in many operations, frequently behind enemy lines, from D-Day (June 1944) until the German surrender in May 1945.
Following the war it was disbanded but re-formed in 1947.
This time it consisted of just one Territorial Army (TA) unit - 21st Battalion, Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles).
In 1959, a third SAS unit was formed - again a TA force - known as 23rd SAS Regiment.
This was a re-naming of the Reserve Reconnaissance Unit, successors to MI9, whose members were experts in escape and evasion.
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