POLICE are searching a wooded area and an address in South Devon following the arrest of a serving member of the armed forces on terrorism offences.

The 30-year-old man was arrested in Somerset by Avon and Somerset Police and it is unknown where in South Devon the searches are being made or whether they are in the South Hams.

The man was arrested at 12.20pm today by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police, on suspicion of being involved in the preparation for acts of terrorism under section 5 of the Terrorism Act.

A statement made by Devon and Cornwall Police on behalf of the Metropolitan Police stated: ‘Today’s arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism being led by SO15 in collaboration with Police Service of Northern Ireland and the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit. No armed police were involved in today’s arrest.

‘The public can be reassured that there is no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat to our communities.

‘The man, who is a serving member of the British armed forces, was arrested at an address in Somerset and has been taken to a West Country police station.

‘Searches are being conducted by SO15 and local uniform officers under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act at an address in South Devon. Further searches are taking place in a wooded area in South Devon, which has been cordoned off, and by PSNI in Northern Ireland in connection with this inquiry.

‘We are not able to provide further detail at this time.’

The police and security services are working closely in response to the threat from terrorism and ask the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.