A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism after police raided a flat above a takeaway.

Residents in the Whitebirk area of Blackburn said they had been left shocked at the arrest in their community.

Lancashire police swooped on the flat above the Hot ‘n’ Spicy takeaway, Burnley Road, Blackburn, early this morning.

Officers said the takeaway was not connected in anyway to the investigation.

A 19-year-old man was detained at the flat under the Terrorism Act.

He was being quizzed by detectives investigating an alleged plot to kill Prime Minister Gordon Brown which saw five other men, four from Blackburn and one from Derby, arrested in August.

In today’s raid, specialist police officers searched the rented flat.

They cordoned off the immediate area and letters were posted to residents living in the vicinity.

Newsagent Tamal Kazi said: "There were a lot of police running about.

"They broke down the door and a few minutes later brought a man out in handcuffs.

"It was quite dramatic as the police sealed off the road and stopped the traffic going past.

"They put him into the back of a van and drove off with two police cars in front and two behind it.

"I have never seen the man they arrested before but many different people used to go in and out of the flat."

Another resident said: “I could see police vans around 7.30am but I think it was over by that time.

“The police have been here a number of times over the past couple of months.

"I didn’t expect it to be a terrorism investigation.”

One 23-year-old woman of Burnley Road said: “It is really scary and shocking to have this happen in your community.”

Another 33-year-old resident said: “I’m just shocked.

"You don’t expect terrorism investigations on your doorstep.

"It is a good neighbourhood - everybody gets on with each other.

"I hope this isn’t anything sinister. ”

A spokesperson for Lancashire police said: “The arrest is the culmination of the counter terrorism operation between Lancashire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Counter Terrorism Unit.”

Abbas Iqbal, 23, his brother IIlyas Iqbal, 21 both of Percival Street, Whalley Range, Ishaq Kanmi, 22, of Cromwell Street, Audley Range, and Muhammad Ali Mumtaz Ahmad, 24, of Whalley Range, have all been charged with alleged terrorism offences and are awaiting trial after appearing in court.