Houses searched under Terror Act

Police tape around a house in Blackwood being searched

Three men remain under questioning at a central London police station under the Terrorism Act after they were arrested at a south Wales valleys house.

Gwent Police initially arrested the three in Blackwood on suspicion of drugs offences on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Command was called in the next day after further inquiries.

Gwent Police said the inquiry was not linked to international terrorism, and two houses were still being searched.

Two of the men are aged 24 and other is 41.

Police said they were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.

They were transferred from south Wales to the central London area after the Met was called in on Thursday.

Police say the inquiry is not connected to international terrorism

A Met Police spokesman said the arrest warrants ran until Tuesday.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said a bomb disposal team had arrived on the street, Waunllwyn Crescent, on Friday evening.

"I don't suppose we are in any danger because the police would have cleared us away," she said.

Search warrant

Another neighbour said the police officers were guarding the front and the back of the house.

Gwent Police had executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Waunllwyn Crescent, Blackwood.

A nearby lane was also searched and a van removed.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which was called to the scene, said several small containers of chemicals were discovered.

Local people said on Wednesday police that had asked them to close doors and windows as they had found chemicals letting off toxic gas.

The searches of two houses and a lane in the area continued and a van has been removed.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they had attended Waunllwyn Crescent in Blackwood on Wednesday with police, where several small containers of chemicals were discovered.