Two Islamist terror suspects have been arrested in Luton after police stopped their car.

Counter-terrorism police arrested the pair on “suspicion of terrorism offences”.

The man, 28, and woman, 25, were held by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command whilst driving through the city.

The Telegraph understands police swooped after an intelligence-led operation into Islamist extremism. As part of the on-going investigation, officers are searching a residential address and a commercial premises in Luton.

Although the pair were stopped on the public highway, it is not thought they were on their way to conduct a terrorist attack and it will be some time before any emails or photographs from mobile phones or other devices can be analysed.

Luton has been a national priority area for Prevent, the government scheme to safeguard communities from terrorism, and counter-extremist policies for several years. The city runs a number of community engagement projects to protect vulnerable people from radicalisation.

A Met police statement said the pair were arrested on "suspicion of terrorism offences under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000". They were taken to a London police station and remain in custody.