Penelope and Ronald Jones were given MBEs for their fostering work (Picture: PA)

The Surrey home raided by police investigating the Parsons Green terror attack is owned by an elderly couple who have fostered hundreds of children.

Ronald Jones, 89, and his wife Penelope, 71, were both awarded MBEs for their services to children and families.

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Armed police swooped on their home in Cavendish Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, and it is understood the couple have been taken away for questioning – though they have not been arrested.

Elmbridge CAN, a community group that aims to ‘build a culture of welcome to refugees’ said the couple have taken in 268 children over almost 40 years.


They have fostered up to seven at a time and the last eight were refugees, it added.

The couple are believed to have been questioned by police investigating the terror attack (Picture: PA)

A house in Sunbury-on-Thames has been raided (Picture: LNP)

In an interview with the organisation, Mrs Jones said fostering ‘had its ups and downs’, adding: ‘They’re all children, it doesn’t matter if they’re sky blue or with pink dots on them – they just need to be loved.’



People living nearby have been told to leave their homes, and it is believed they won’t be able to return on Saturday.

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A former neighbour, who has known the pair for decades, said: ‘They are such a lovely couple – they would do anything for anyone.

‘They were huge figures in the local community, and had such big hearts.

‘Almost all the children they looked after were disadvantaged or troubled in some way, but you never saw Penny

getting cross with them.

Police thanked locals for their co-operation (Picture: Reuters)

Locals were told to leave their homes (Picture: Katie Stannett)

‘You can’t blame her if one of her foster children did something wrong – they were nothing but loving to everyone.’

Hundreds of locals have been offered tea and coffee at a nearby rugby club, but will have to stay away from their homes overnight as police continue to investigate at the Jones’ home.

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Daphne, who lives opposite their house, said: ‘I am so worried about Ron and Penny, they are a lovely couple.

‘They hammered on the door and Ron opened it, they nearly hit him with their door hammer.

‘I hear they have been taken away for questioning. I don’t understand. They foster a lot of children, their latest boy is lovely, he is really quiet.’

A large area was cordoned off (Picture: Getty)

Police are thought to have raided an address (Picture: Anar Allidina Dale)

A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘Cordons are being put in place at a 100 metre radius to facilitate the Metropolitan Police Service’s operation, which is being supported by colleagues from Surrey Police.

‘A search of the address is ongoing and the cordons will remain in place until the operation is complete.

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‘Police would like to thank the local residents directly affected for their cooperation and patience. Local officers are on duty in the immediate area to talk to the community and address any concerns that they may have.’

Earlier on Saturday, an 18-year-old man was arrested in Dover. He is in police custody.

The arrest was described as ‘significant’ by deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu.

More armed police are on the streets after the attack (Picture: Anar Allidina Dale)

Officers were pictured in riot gear holding shields (Picture: Kosta Miladinov)

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It comes after 29 people were injured when a device in a bucket exploded on a District Line train at 8.15am on Friday.

None of the people hurt in the incident are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.



Prime Minister Theresa May said the country’s terror threat level had been raised from ‘severe’ to ‘critical’ in the aftermath of the attack.

This indicates that another attack could be imminent.

Soldiers and more armed police will be deployed on the streets following the blast.

Witnesses described watching tall flames shoot from a white container before the carriage filled with smoke that had a chemical smell.