The 20-year-old Muslim woman shot by police as they foiled an 'active terror plot' was taken away on a stretcher in her blood-soaked burka yelling: 'Don't touch my body'.

The suspect screamed 'get off - do not touch me' as they tried to strip off her clothes and treat her wounds after the raid in Willesden, north London, at 7pm last night.

Dramatic video footage shows the moment elite Met officers smashed through the door, ran up to the first floor flat and then threw in CS canisters before 'at least six' shots rang out including two that shattered an upstairs window.

Neighbours heard a woman 'screaming' inside before the young suspect lay on the pavement bleeding from her arm and stomach while still wearing her burka.

One said: 'Doctors were trying to help her. She was shouting: "Do not touch me, do not touch my body".'

Another witness who saw the raid's aftermath said: 'They brought down a lady in a black burka. She had been shot the paramedics stripped off her clothing to get access to the wounded areas.'

The woman - believed to be the first female terror suspect in UK history to be shot by police - was rushed to hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition and is too unwell to be arrested under the terrorism act.

Pictured: This is the moment the 20-year-old woman shot by police was taken away on a paramedic's gurney covered in blood and still wearing her burka

Row: Witnesses said she screamed 'get off - don't touch me' as they tried to strip off her clothes and treat her wounds

Drama: This is when officers holding machine guns and wearing bullet-proof vests, helmets and gas masks went in

Raid: This is the moment anti-terror police stormed a house and shot a woman in her 20s in Willesden north London last night

Bullet holes in the upstairs window of a property in Willesden, North London which was raided by anti-terror police yesterday

In a separate raid a woman, also in a burka, was wrestled by police in Willesden High Street

Daily arrests across Britain as police foil attack after attack Counter-terrorism units have been making arrests on a near daily basis amid a huge effort to contain the threat to the UK. Activity by police and security services has been running at a high level for a number of years as they attempt to defend Britain against dangers ranging from lone wolf strikes to complex, mass-casualty plots. Figures show there were 260 arrests for terrorism-related offences last year. This was a slight fall compared to the previous year, but the number remained high compared with other recent years. In March it was revealed authorities have thwarted 13 potential attacks in less than four years. The official threat level for international terrorism has been at severe, indicating an attack is "highly likely", since 2014. While Islamic State remains a major focus of the work of police and intelligence agencies, security officials have repeatedly stressed that the threat posed from al Qaida remains. Counter-terrorism authorities are also handling a rising number of cases of far-right extremism. Although the pace of activity has been constant, Thursday's operations stood out from the relatively constant stream of arrests in recent years for different reasons. Firstly, because of the location of the swoop in which a man was held in Whitehall. He was arrested just yards from the scene of last month's deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster. Then in an unconnected operation armed officers launched a raid on an address in north London in which a woman was shot. Although police conduct thousands of firearms operations every year, incidents in which officers discharge their weapons are extremely rare. Advertisement

Five people linked to the flat including a 16-year-old boy and a couple, both 28, have been held over alleged terror offences. A woman, 43, was held in Kent.

Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said today that the raids meant an 'active' terror plot had been foiled - but had nothing to with the arrest of a 27-year-old with a 'rucksack of knives' grabbed on Whitehall yesterday.

Residents of Harlesden Road say that the property was being watched on the morning of the raid and MI5 were also 'heavily' involved in the operation, a security source told MailOnline.

A 16-year-old boy and and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the Willesden house and a man, 20, was arrested nearby. A couple, both 28, were held last night as they arrived home. Simultaneously a woman, 43, was arrested at an address in Kent.

All were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts - but the shot woman is currently too ill to be arrested.

Ruth Haile 40, who has lived in the area for nine years, said: 'I heard a shot and I looked out my window and there were dozens of police.

'The woman was being arrested, she was on the floor wearing an long dress and covered in a head scarf.

'She was shouting, 'Do not touch me, do not touch my body.'

'She was injured, she had a wound on her right side and doctors were trying to help her. There was a bandage on the wound.

'She was lying in the street and there were about five or six police around her, some of them were carrying guns.

'She was shouting 'No, no, no', she was shouting with an accent.

'Police were cutting her dress and she was shouting at them, shouting 'No, no, no'.

'That was the first time I had seen her, you could see through the front door and there was blood everywhere.'

Maxine McKenzie, who lives up the road from where the swoop took place, described hearing 'gunshots' and saw a woman being taken away in an ambulance.

The 48-year-old said: 'I saw lots of police officers, different kinds of police officers... a lot of frenetic police activity and then they very quickly put the cordon up and then very quickly after that an ambulance arrived.

'A woman was being led away so she was led down the street... she was then restrained - they put restraints on her behind her back - and took her off. Then we saw the injured person being taken out of the house on a stretcher and being put into an ambulance. She was sitting upright and had oxygen on - I couldn't tell if she was conscious or unconscious.'

Armed police guarded the terror suspect as she was placed on a stretcher and was followed out of the house by police in gas masks

Witnesses said police fired guns and threw in CS gas and may have been shot in an upstairs bedroom

The Metropolitan Police said four people were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts - three in Willesden and another in Kent

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu today confirmed that they had thwarted two 'active' terror plots

Another neighbour Tom O'Connor, 33, said: 'We were watching TV and I heard we heard some noises and it slowly dawned on me that they were gunshots.

'Then we saw undercover armed police running past the window and then we saw heavily armed guards.

'We then heard smash, smash, smash.

'About ten minutes later there were a few screams and I saw some people in stab vests, who I think might be interpreters.

'There were about seven or ten armed officers and loads more undercover. I've heard the house has been under surveillance for a while now.'

The dramatic raid came hours after a 27-year-old man was arrested with a 'bag full of knives' in Whitehall, but Scotland Yard has said they are not linked.

Deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu, senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism policing, said: 'Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, in both cases I believe that we have contained the threats that they pose.'

Pressed by reporters on whether they had foiled an active plot, Mr Basu replied: 'Yes.'

Mr Basu said that, with last month's Westminster attack 'so fresh in people's minds', he wanted to reassure the public that officers were working around the clock to identify would-be terrorists.

He went on: 'There are constant acts of immense bravery by officers, armed and unarmed - those that the public see, where our officers run towards danger just as you saw yesterday, but a huge amount of unseen work that the public will never see behind the scenes.'

Thanking the public for their 'continued help and support', he added: 'No matter how hard we try, it is communities that will defeat terrorism and we rely on your vigilance'.

Police have sealed off Harlesden Road and are searching the upstairs flat and two other related properties

Dozens of uniformed officers are guarding the property and patrolling the area to reassure the public

Armed police stormed a North London property last night as part of an anti-terror raid and it was captured by passing locals

Police also swooped on an address in Willesden High Road (pictured) last night and interviewed a woman in a burka - it is not clear if any arrests were made there

Police also swooped on an address in Willesden High Road (pictured) last night - it is not clear if any arrests were made there

Dozens of specialist officers covering their faces and witnesses said that some were wearing gas masks

Probe: Armed police swooped on the property in north London - the address and persons connected with it had been under observation by counter terrorism officers

The six arrested in Willesden and Kent had been under observation by counter terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence led operation. Searches at the address and two others in London are continuing today.

A mother-of-one who lived next door to the raided house, who gave her name only as Alexandra, said she heard a woman 'screaming' shortly after the armed police arrived.

She said she thought the police were coming through her door, and saw officers with 'gas masks and snipers'.

'We were just about to go shopping until we heard 'bang, bang, bang, bang', went to the window and just saw a number of armed police just there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbour's window.

'We were really worried - I was screaming to my partner 'Armed police is here, oh my god, armed police' and then again we heard extra bangs, more bangs, so we assumed that's when they were breaking the doors or something.

'They were in the garden - they were everywhere. They swarmed the whole house practically. I wasn't even allowed in my garden - they were telling me '(There's) armed police, go inside'.

Alex Paton, 50, who also lives in Harlesden Road, said: 'Five minutes after it happened I saw the ambulance take off and stuff and wondered what the hell it was.'

He said he saw a woman 'getting all cuffed up and put in a white suit', and described seeing 'all sorts of people running around - there was coppers and masked men with guns and there was a guy running down the road with a gas mask and a machine gun'.

'It was like 'Whoa - this is serious'.'

Mr Paton added: 'It was pretty scary ... I walked out to talk to a copper and I just got shouted at 'Get back in, get back in'.'

This is the face of a terror suspect tackled to the floor in Whitehall, where knives were seen strewn across the floor. He is believed to be Mohammed Khalid Omar Ali

At least three knives were seen laying on the floor after a team of officers swooped and tackled the man to the ground

Video posted on Twitter showed police wearing balaclavas at a property on Willesden High Road, just over half a mile from Harlesden Road.

A witness tweeted: '#womanindoorway held by anti-terrorism police on Willesden high road #Willesdengreen while detective searches her bags #harlesden #willesden'.

This incident is not connected to the arrest in Whitehall earlier the same day, the Met Police said.

The arrests came just hours after heavily armed officers arrested a suspected Islamic extremist as he crossed Whitehall, just yards from Downing Street and Parliament.

Armed police 'swarmed like bees' on the bearded man just before 2.30pm after his concerned family reportedly alerted security services.

Witnesses said the man, who was wearing a tracksuit and trainers, was crossing Whitehall amid the usual crowds of tourists and political staff when a police car suddenly pulled up and officers confronted him, just five weeks after the Westminster terror attack killed that five people.

But, unbeknown to him, the suspect had been tailed from the moment he got off the Underground at St James's Park - where he had travelled from east London - and headed towards Westminster.

While covert teams trailed him on the ground, a live feed was being sent to control rooms in New Scotland Yard and the MI5's Thames House before they gave the order for them to swoop in.

A large number of armed police then flooded the area as the suspect was pinned to the ground just yards from Downing Street. He was held against a wall of the Treasury before being taken away in a van to a police station.

Security sources say police were tipped off by the man's family, which may have allowed officers the chance to detain him before they had to resort to opening fire.

The suspect has not been named but is 27 years old and thought to be known to police, who kept tabs on him via surveillance cameras on the streets and on the Underground.

It is believed that the suspect had been under round-the-clock surveillance and was tracked by two teams with armed officers on standby, and that his phone and other means of communication were being monitored.

Met chief says London arrests have 'contained' imminent terror threat Met deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said today that he believed police had 'contained' the threat from both the Willesden incident and the earlier terror arrest in Westminster. Speaking outside Scotland Yard he said armed counter-terrorism officers using CS gas stormed a house in the Willesden area of the capital on Thursday evening which had been under surveillance, shooting a woman in her 20s In a separate incident on Thursday, a man was arrested carrying knives near Prime Minister Theresa May's office in Westminster and he remains in police custody, Basu said. His statement said: 'Yesterday was an extraordinary day in London so I wanted to update you on the two separate unconnected and ongoing counter terrorism investigations that happened in the last 24 hours. 'Given the horrors in London of a few short weeks ago - and our thoughts are still with the victims and survivors of that dreadful day 'I wanted to reassure the public that our increased activity to combat terrorism over the last two years continues - both by police and security services 'Activity continues around the clock to identify and stop these threats and we are making arrests on a near daily basis. 'I want to pay tribute to the bravery of my uniform and detective colleagues who are doing that work to keep us safe. 'So - to yesterday's events: In Whitehall, a 27-year-old man was arrested by armed officers from the Met's Specialist Firearms Command, who stopped and searched him as part of an ongoing counter terrorism investigation. 'He remains in our custody having been arrested for Terrorism Act Offences and possession of offensive weapons and there are two ongoing searches at addresses in London as part of that investigation. 'In our second and unrelated investigation, last night at just before 19:00hrs, our highly trained firearms officers carried out a specialist entry into an address in Harlesden Road that we had under observation as part of a current Counter Terrorism investigation. 'An armed entry was necessary due to the nature of the intelligence that we were dealing with, and involved armed officers firing CS into the address. 'During the course of that operation one of the subjects of that operation - a woman - was shot by police - she remains in hospital. Her condition is serious but stable. Because of her condition she has not yet been arrested. We are monitoring her condition closely. 'As is routine we have informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 'In total six people have now been arrested in connection with that investigation - five at or near the address and one in Kent. 'The two further arrests were made when a man and a woman - both aged 28 - returned to the address later last night. 'Searches are ongoing at three London addresses - including Harlesden Road - as part of this investigation. 'Due to these arrests that we have made, I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed. 'With the attack in Westminster on 22 March so fresh in people's minds, I would like to reassure everyone that across the country officers are working round the clock to identify those people who intend to commit acts of terror. 'After that attack, we increased the number of officers on duty patrolling at key locations - and that continues as we police against the backdrop of a severe terrorist threat. 'There are constant acts of immense bravery by officers - armed and unarmed - those that the public see when our officers run towards danger, just like yesterday, but a huge amount of unseen work that the public will never know about from us and our brilliant security services. 'I would also like to thank the public for their continued help and support. No matter how hard we try it is communities that will defeat terrorism and we rely on your vigilance. Please continue to let us know of any suspicions or concerns you may have. No call is ever a waste of our time and every call is treated seriously and confidentially and investigated. 'We will continue to work with all communities to defeat terrorists together - we will not allow common criminals to spread discord and fear. And lastly can I thank the public for their bravery and help; for remaining calm and tolerant and being a fantastic advert worldwide for democracy, diversity and freedom.' Advertisement

EXCLUSIVE: Dramatic moment burka-wearing woman screams as anti-terror police drag her off a bus and bundle her into a doorway in raid linked to arrests that ‘foiled active plot’ in north London

By MARTIN ROBINSON, UK CHIEF REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE and JOSH WHITE and REBECCA CAMBER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

This is the moment a woman in a burka was dragged off a packed bus by undercover police in the same operation that led to another young female Muslim being shot streets away.

Exclusive MailOnline footage shows the bus passenger in Muslim dress, believed to be in her early 20s, screaming as at least five officers snatched her off public transport on Willesden High Road last night.

She was bundled into a doorway next to a convenience store, forced to lower her veil to show her face and had her bags searched after being trailed by undercover police.

Scotland Yard told MailOnline that she has not been arrested - but it is understood that she was grabbed while with a 20-year-old man who was.

Video of the bus raid shows it was pre-planned with more than a dozen officers grabbing and swamping the woman, including some who were travelling on public transport with her.

The man also on board is understood to have run off but was quickly arrested by more police nearby.

Drama: This is the moment a woman in a burka was dragged off a packed bus by undercover police in synchronised terror raids

Exclusive MailOnline footage shows the bus passenger in Muslim dress, believed to be in her early 20s, screaming and resisting police

Orders: Undercover police in balaclavas flooded Willesden High Road and moved the bus the woman was on away

In a separate raid a woman, also in a burka, was wrestled by police in Willesden High Street

She had got off the 266 bus, which was quickly waved on by counter-terror officers at the scene.

Officers went through her bags but she was released after being 'spoken to', the Met said.

Witness Eddie, who filmed the arrest, said: 'They pulled her off the 98 bus, it comes from Oxford Street.

'They were searching her bags. They made her take the veil off while they searched her in a doorway.

'As she came off more police came off directly behind her. About five minutes before a guy was standing directly next to the bus stop with an ear piece.

'I thought he was lost but he was obviously orchestrating the entire operation.'

Robert Murphy, 43, a bookmaker said the cops had suddenly put balaclava masks on moments before detaining the suspect.

He said: 'I was outside the pub having a cigarette and it was obvious that something was going to happen.

'The police were dressed like normal fellas and then all of a sudden they put on balaclavas and they rushed at the woman.

'They kicked the door in and burst inside with her.

'They wouldn't let any busses stop afterwards, the woman was being searched for about half an hour.

'Then a black Range Rover pulled up and they put her inside and took her away.'

Several people filmed the operation in Willesden High Road (pictured) last night - but the woman pictured was not arrested

Officers went through her bags (pictured) but she was released after being 'spoken to', the Met said

Police sent in this black Range Rover and the woman was put in the back and swept her away

Half a mile away in a near-simultaneous raid more elite Met officers smashed through the door, ran up to the first floor flat and then threw in CS canisters before 'at least six' shots rang out including two that shattered an upstairs window.

The 20-year-old Muslim woman shot by police as they foiled an 'active terror plot' was taken away on a stretcher in her blood-soaked burka yelling: 'Don't touch my body'.

The suspect screamed 'get off - do not touch me' as they tried to strip off her clothes and treat her wounds after the raid in Willesden, north London, at 7pm last night.

Neighbours heard a woman 'screaming' inside before the young suspect lay on the pavement bleeding from her arm and stomach while still wearing her burka.

One said: 'Doctors were trying to help her. She was shouting: "Do not touch me, do not touch my body".'

Another witness who saw the raid's aftermath said: 'They brought down a lady in a black burka. She had been shot the paramedics stripped off her clothing to get access to the wounded areas.'

Pictured: This is the moment the 20-year-old woman shot by police was taken away on a paramedic's gurney covered in blood and still wearing her burka

Raid: This is the moment anti-terror police stormed a house and shot a woman in her 20s in Willesden north London last night

Bullet holes in the upstairs window of a property in Willesden, North London which was raided by anti-terror police yesterday

The woman - believed to be the first female terror suspect in UK history to be shot by police - was rushed to hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition and is too unwell to be arrested under the terrorism act.

A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the Willesden house and a man, 20, was arrested nearby. A couple, both 28, were held last night as they arrived home. Simultaneously a woman, 43, was arrested at an address in Kent.

Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said today that the raids meant an 'active' terror plot had been foiled - but had nothing to with the arrest of a 27-year-old with a 'rucksack of knives' grabbed on Whitehall yesterday.

Residents of Harlesden Road say that the property was being watched on the morning of the raid and MI5 were also 'heavily' involved in the operation, a security source told MailOnline.

A 16-year-old boy and and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the Willesden house and a man, 20, was arrested nearby. A couple, both 28, were held last night as they arrived home. Simultaneously a woman, 43, was arrested at an address in Kent.

All were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts - but the shot woman is currently too ill to be arrested.