An address in north Croydon was among a number of residential properties being searched by police as part of a massive anti-terror inquiry.

The home was one of 17 addresses across the capital being searched after the arrests of 14 men by the Met's anti-terror branch last Friday evening and in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Further searhes are taking place in Catts Hill, Marks Cross and at the Jameah Islameah Islamic school in East Sussex.

Twelve of the arrests came after police swooped on a Chinese restaurant in the Borough area of South London as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation.

It is not known if the Croydon home belongs to one of the men taken to Paddington Green police station for questioning.

On Sunday anti-terrorism officers were granted warrants to further detain three suspects until today (Wednesday) with the remaining 11 being held until Friday.

Scotland Yard stressed that the arrests were not connected with the alleged transatlantic jet bomb plot last month or the July 7 terrorist attacks.

They also said that the arrests in south and east London follow many months of surveillance and investigation in a joint operation involving the Anti-Terrorist Branch, Metropolitan Police Service, Special Branch and the Security Service.

Speaking about Friday's events and the subsequent house searches, borough commander of Croydon Police Chief Superintendent Mark Gore said: "Over the weekend we have carried out a number of reassurance patrols in response to the raids and we have been in touch with representatives from various communities across Croydon."

In July Chief Supt Gore met members of the borough's Bangladeshi community to address their concerns over the Forest Gate terror raid in east London in June where one man was shot by police.

The meeting at the Bangladeshi Welfare Association in West Croydon was billed as an opportunity for the Asian community to rebuild relationships with the police force after a period of perceived tension and loss of confidence.

Croydon councillor Enley Taylor, cabinet member for community cohesion and customer and organisational services, said: "It's quite easy to be fearful of all people of Muslim background but we must remember that it is very few that are involved.

"It is important not to stigmatise a whole group of people and to look at it in prospective."

He added: "I think there is good community cohesion in Croydon and we must ensure it remains that way. In the future we will be looking more closely into this area to ensure that communities remain together and mix together."