British authorities are investigating two plots of land involving British Iranian nationals A senior official told a senior official who threatened it was likely the state sponsor.

Eight people were arrested in London and other parts of the UK over the weekend, according to a statement from local authorities. Seven of them were Iranian nationals, officials said.

Police said three of the men were arrested under Section 27 of the UK National Security Act 2023, which allows police to arrest people suspected of acting in joint efforts with foreign forces.

Officials said the two plots were separated, but senior officials told the threatening senior officials that British law enforcement is now trying to determine whether the same entity directs the two plots.

The CIA and the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment.

Some information about one of the two plots reveals local time early on Sunday.

Metropolitan police said in their first announcement of the arrest that they detained five men, four of whom are Iranian descent, related to what they call "the alleged British terrorist plot"

Police said men in various parts of the UK, including Swindon, London, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester, were arrested in various parts of the UK under the Terrorism Act. The age and nationality of the fifth person are still being determined.

All were detained by police. The motivation is not clear.

Police said a "fast-move" investigation into the first potential attack is underway. The first group targeted specific locations but refused to say where it was, the Counter-terrorism police said.

Details of other alleged attack plans have not been disclosed.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the two attacks "major actions" and said it "reflects some of the biggest anti-state threats and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years." She also called the ongoing investigation "very important".

In the past, Iranian nationals targeted Britain. The BBC reported in 2023 that in one case, an independent television station called Iran International Network broadcasted in Persia, was critical of the Iranian government - moving from London to the United States after its reporters received threats of state support from Iran.

According to an ITV News investigation into the plot, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards plan to use a people's smuggler to kill two journalists online, who paid $200,000 for the attack. The plan was eventually thwarted when smugglers became "dual agents" for an unnamed Western intelligence agency.

The Associated Press reported at the time that in March 2024, another Iranian international journalist was targeted and stabbed his London home. Two Romanian men were later charged with assault.

British Secretary of State Dan Jarvis said in his latest news last month that the UK has responded to 20 Iran-backed lands since early 2022, which is a "potential deadly threat to British citizens and British residents".

Jarvis said Iran is targeting dissidents, media organizations and journalists covering violent oppression of the Iranian regime.

He added that Iran could also plan to attack Jews or Israeli targets, citing “for a long time, Iranian intelligence has targeted Jews and Israeli people internationally.”

"It is obvious that these conspiracies are conscious strategies by the Iranian regime to stifle criticism through intimidation and fear," Jarvis said.