Terror Arrests: Two More Held In Syria Probe

Two more people have been arrested as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism in Syria.

A 27-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested in Essex on Wednesday on suspicion of "being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation" of terrorism.

Their arrests follow the detention of two men, aged 22 and 29, at the Port of Dover in Kent in the early hours of Monday in connection with the same inquiry.

Some ammunition was seized.

Scotland Yard said searches were also being carried out at properties in east London and Lancashire. Two vehicles had also been searched.

The British-Asian men who were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on Monday had arrived at Dover from Calais.

The men, who are understood to be of Pakistani origin, are in custody at a London police station as inquiries by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) continue.

The pair held yesterday have also been taken to a police station in the capital, and police are searching the Essex property.

No arrests have been made at the east London and Lancashire addresses which are being searched.

"The searches are ongoing and we are unable to provide more details at this stage," Scotland Yard said.

A large number of foreigners have joined opposition groups fighting to topple the Syrian regime of President Bashar al Assad.

British citizens travelling abroad in connection with extremist activities have increasingly become the focus of security service investigations prompting a number of warnings about Britons heading to the Middle East for terrorist training.

Jonathan Evans, director-general of the Security Service, warned in June that parts of the Arab world were becoming a more permissive environment for al Qaeda and Britons were travelling there to "seek training and opportunities for militant activity".