Terror police arrest eight men - five over 'suspected plot to target specific premises'

Eight men have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in two unconnected terrorism investigations.

In one operation on Saturday, counter-terror officers arrested five men - four of whom are Iranian nationals - as they swooped in on various locations around the country. All are in police custody.

The Met said the arrests related to a "suspected plot to target a specific premises". In an update shortly after midnight, the force said: "Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time." Kyle Warren, who lives in Rochdale and witnessed one of the arrests, said his children were playing in the garden and then coming running into the house, saying a man in a mask had told them to go inside.

"Obviously I was a bit worried," Mr Warren told Sky News's Lisa Dowd, and so he went into the garden to investigate. "As we've come out, we just heard a massive bang, seen loads of police everywhere with guns, shouting at us to get inside the house." From upstairs in his house he then heard "loads of shouting in the house" and saw a man being pulled ou the back o fthe house, "dragged down the side entry and thrown into all the bushes and then handcuffed".

There were about 20 to 30 officers with guns, he believes. "It's just shocking, really.

You don't expect it on your doorstep." His daughters were "petrified... I don't think they've ever seen a gun, so to see 20 masked men with guns running round was quite scary for them." Mr Warren, who only moved into his house a year ago, said he had "never really seen anyone going in or out" of the house and actually thought it was empty.

The Met added officers were carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation. It said those detained were: • A 29-year-old man arrested in the Swindon area• A 46-year-old man arrested in west London• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Stockport area• A 40-year-old man arrested in the Rochdale area• A man whose age was not confirmed arrested in the Manchester area.

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." Terror arrests in separate investigation Police also arrested three further Iranian nationals in London on Saturday as part of another, unrelated counter terror investigation.

The suspects were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which allows police to arrest those suspected of being "involved in foreign power threat activity". Read more from Sky News:Pictured: Boy killed in fire - 14 children arrestedLady Gaga puts on biggest-ever show for free Home secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: "I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe.

"Protecting national security is the first duty of government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work." She added: "These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.".