MQM founder Altaf Hussain taken into custody in London

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was arrested on Tuesday in a raid conducted at his residence in London.

A statement issued by London's Metropolitan Police confirmed the MQM founder's arrest, although the statement does not name the founder. "A man has today, Tuesday, 11 June, been arrested in connection with an investigation into a number of speeches made by an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan," the statement reads.

The statement further reads that the man, who is in his 60s, was arrested at an address in north west London. "He was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007," the statement added.

The MQM leader was detained under PACE and taken to a south London police station. Officers are also carrying out a search at the north west London address as part of their investigation. The investigation is being led by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

The investigation is being focused on a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person, said the statement.

"Throughout the investigation, officers have been liaising with Pakistani authorities in relation to our ongoing enquiries," the statement concluded.