Stansted airport. Pic: Christopher Kern.

Counter-terrorism officers have arrested an 18-year-old woman at Stansted airport, in an incident thought to be related to an arrest made in Hackney last year.

The woman, who has not yet been identified by police, was arrested at approximately 4:00 pm yesterday afternoon.

She was arrested on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist acts and membership of a proscribed organisation, according to police.

She was taken to a central London prison where she now remains in custody.

As part of the same investigation, police say, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Hackney on suspicion of similar offences on October 29 of last year.

He was arrested on suspicion of “assisting another to commit acts of terrorism” or “to engage in any conduct for the committing of such acts, by facilitating another to travel abroad”.

The man was taken to a south London police station and has now been bailed until later this month.

A residential address in the borough was also searched as part of the man’s arrest.

It has not yet been confirmed where the woman arrested yesterday had travelled from, before arriving at the airport.

Police could not give further information regarding how the two arrests are linked at this stage, but enquiries continue.