Anti-terror police arrest seven

The police raid began early on Thursday morning

Six men and a woman have been arrested by police in four cities across the UK in connection with an anti-terrorism operation.

The arrests, under the Terrorism Act 2000, were made in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

The operation was led by Lothian and Borders Police and follows an operation by the force in December which saw seven North African men detained.

Premises where the arrests were made are being searched, but police said no "dangerous substances" had been found.

DCC Tom Wood said it was a successful operation

Tom Wood, deputy chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This was a carefully co-ordinated operation which was executed successfully.

"Since this operation is connected to another matter which is presently 'active', under the Contempt of Court Act no further information can be given out at present.

"Although searches of the addresses are continuing it is important to stress that there has been no discovery of dangerous substances at this time."

A police spokesman said two men were arrested in Edinburgh, one man in Greater Manchester, a man and woman in Glasgow and two men in London.

Forensic tests

All seven have been taken to a high-security police station at Govan in Glasgow for questioning.

It is understood the men arrested in London were initially taken to police stations at Nine Elms (South London) and Leyton (East London.)

The Glasgow operation began at around 0500 GMT on Thursday when police raided a flat.

"Dangerous substances" have not been found

A police cordon was in place around the ground floor flat in Rosemount Street, and around half a dozen officers were patrolling outside the four-storey block of flats.

Neighbours on both sides said they heard nothing at all of the activity in the early hours.

A police spokesman said he expected the search of the flats to last for around two days.

He said officers who raided the flat had been wearing body armour and that forensic officers had also initially been wearing protective suits as a precaution but they were not thought necessary later.

Three men were seen carrying what looked like evidence bags into the flat at around 0840 GMT.

A car was taken away by police for forensic examination.