British police have arrested 14 men following ant-terror raids in south and east London. Two other men were arrested in a separate raid in Manchester.
The 14 men were arrested late last night and in the early hours of today on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Police spokesman
Detectives were today carrying out searches at at a large number of residential properties across London - running into double figures - as well as at an Islamic school in Mark Cross, near Crowborough, East Sussex.
Later, a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said no arrests had been made at the Jameah Islamiyah Secondary School in Mark Cross. She said the school was set within 54 acres and has 100 rooms, including outhouses.
The spokeswoman said police officers started their operation at the site at about 6am, and searches were taking place.
She added: "No arrests have been made. The people in the school have been very co-operative."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorist Branch have arrested 14 men under the Terrorism Act 2000 in a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation.
"The arrests in south and east London follow many months of surveillance and investigation in a joint operation involving the Anti-Terrorist Branch, Special Branch and the Security Service."
The spokesman added that the arrests were not linked to the recent alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners or the July 7th bombings in London.
One of the raids took place at a Chinese restaurant in Borough Road, south London, close to South Bank University. Up to 40 officers in riot gear entered the premises which was packed with diners shortly after 10pm last night, the report said.
A total of 12 arrests were made at the restaurant which is part of the Bridge Hotel. A spokeswoman for British Home Secretary John Reid said he had been "kept fully informed of the developments about the counter-terror operation".
The halal Chinese restaurant is said to be popular with the local Muslim community.
There were between 60 and 70 people at the Bridge to China Town restaurant last night where the majority of the people were thought to have been arrested.
As a halal restaurant, it regularly attracts the Muslim community and serves no alcohol.
In a separate raid in Manchester, two men were arrested today in an anti-terror raid. Greater Manchester Police made the arrests in raids on three houses in Cheetham Hill, Manchester at 6am.
PA