Up to 11 suspected leading members of a banned neo-Nazi group have been arrested in a series of counter terrorism dawn raids across the country.

A number of the arrests were believed to have been linked to a converted warehouse in Warrington said to serve as a head office and gym for National Action. According to the campaign group, HOPE not hate, the building was where National Action supporters were trained to prepare for a “race war” by learning hand-to-hand combat.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal unit was sent to one address in Leeds and another in Wales as a “precautionary measure”. Eleven properties were being searched last night.

Six of the arrested men are from the North West of England, including one man who has been produced from prison, while two are from the South Wales area, two are from West Yorkshire area and one from Wiltshire. Their ages ranged between 22 and 35.

Six of the men from the North West, including the serving prisoner, were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. Those six and the remaining five other men were also arrested on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: “These arrests relate to threats against individuals and not threats against communities.”