(VOVworld) - Five people have been arrested in Britain and several properties were being searched Friday in Birmingham in an investigation following the deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels. West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said the arrests aimed to address any associated threat to the U.K. following the attacks in Europe.

The move comes only days after authorities in Belgium detained a suspect in connection with deadly attacks in Brussels and Paris who had ties to the Birmingham area. Three men and one woman were arrested Thursday in the central English city of Birmingham.
Another man was also arrested Friday at London’s Gatwick Airport. The five were arrested for suspected ties to the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terror. Police would not elaborate on the searches in Birmingham.