Armed police descended on a London street and are questioning a teenager on suspicion of terrorism offences.

The 18-year-old has been detained by counter-terrorism officers on suspicion of being concerned in the preparation of acts of terrorism.

Police would not confirm the exact location of the incident in North London, which took place just after midnight on Friday.

A 18-year-old has been detained by counter-terrorism officers on suspicion of being concerned in the preparation of acts of terrorism

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the suspect was being detained at a police station in the city for questioning after his arrest in the early hours of this morning.

He said: 'Officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) arrested an 18-year-old man at around 12.10am on Friday, May 18 on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

'The arrest took place in the street in the north London area and was carried out with the assistance of armed officers.

'The man was arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken into custody at a south London police station where he remains.'

The UK was hit by a number of terrorist attacks in 2017, with the greatest death toll taking place at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena, where a bomb killed 22 people.

Four major terrorist incidents took place in London last year, including the attack on the palace of Westminster in March, in which PC Keith Palmer and four other people were killed.

An attack at London Bridge in June, saw three terrorists kill eight people before being killed themselves.

Another attack took place near a mosque in north London during Ramadan and another at Parsons Green station in south-west London.

Anyone who may have seen the incident or has any further information can contact MailOnline by emailing laura.forsyth@mailonline.co.uk