In a significant operation, the Metropolitan Police have announced the arrest of six individuals suspected of planning to disrupt the London Stock Exchange. The group, believed to be activists from the Palestine Action organization, allegedly intended to cause damage and "lock on" in an attempt to prevent the exchange from opening for trading on Monday.

The arrests took place in London, Liverpool, and Brighton on Sunday, with all six individuals now in custody. The Met Police noted that there were concerns that this plot was part of a larger week-long action. As a result, they have been in contact with other forces, including the City of London Police, to ensure any further disruptions can be effectively managed.

The authorities acted upon information provided by the Daily Express, leading to the successful apprehension of the suspects. Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas described the arrests as significant, stating, "We believe this group was ready to carry out a disruptive and damaging stunt which could have had serious implications had it been carried out successfully."

The first arrest occurred in the early hours of Sunday when a 31-year-old man from Liverpool was apprehended by Merseyside Police on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage. Later in the day, five others were arrested for the same offense. Among them were a 29-year-old woman from Brent in north London, a 23-year-old man from Tower Hamlets in east London, two women aged 28 and 26 from Liverpool, and a 27-year-old man from Brighton.

Detective Superintendent Thomas expressed gratitude to the Daily Express for their willingness to share the information obtained through their own investigation, which played a vital role in the police's intervention. She also acknowledged the efforts of the Met's public order crime team and Merseyside Police in identifying, locating, and apprehending the individuals suspected of involvement in the plot.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are determined to uncover any potential connections or further plans related to the group. The arrests made have potentially prevented a disruptive and damaging incident at the London Stock Exchange.