Anti-terrorist officers have arrested two people as they tried to arrive in Britain.

Two Belgian nationals were swooped on by counter terrorism police at the Port of Dover on Friday.

The 38-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were both arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act (2006) and detained under TACT (Terrorism Act 2000).

The man was arrested at 9.45am and the woman at 9.55am and both had arrived on a ferry coming into Dover Eastern Docks.

Det Ch Supt Kath Barnes, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: “Officers at Dover stopped the pair under suspicion of terrorism offences as they tried to enter the country.

“I would like to praise the officers for the arrest and reassure the community that there was no imminent threat to members of public.

“Our investigation will continue and I would like to take this opportunity to urge members of the public to report anything that they find suspicious to the police.”

On Saturday a warrant for further detention was granted until Friday, January 25.

Both remain in custody.