Metropolitan Police. Photo: Met Police

Two people from Croydon have  been arrested by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command on suspicion of terrorist fundraising.

They were detained in a nationwide operation with raids at several residential addresses in London, Cardiff and Coventry at 6 a.m.

They have been described as a woman, 48, and a man, 49.

Searches at two residential addresses in Croydon have been described as “ongoing” as of Wednesday.

They are being questioned about the funding of a terrorist organisation, and laundering the proceeds of crime at a Central London police station and remain in custody. Five other men were arrested in Brent, Coventry and Cardiff.

The co-ordinated operation is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, with assistance from the Counter Terrorism network, the UK Border Agency and local forces and was described as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation, into suspected fundraising for terrorism overseas.

US Home Security Investigations

It is being accompanied by Homeland Security Investigations in America, that is targeting a network suspected of illegally exporting the stimulant khat, which is legal in the UK, to the USA and Canada where it is a controlled substance.

Detectives have been carrying out searches at the four residential addresses where the arrests were made.

Eight further search warrants were served on seven residential addresses in London, Worthing, and Coventry, and a business premises in Coventry.