In the corner of Aladdins – “the best chicken shop in Hounslow” according to one customer – a little girl sat eating her chips and singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.

By Monday lunchtime, news had yet to filter through to some that Yahyah Farroukh, the “quiet” 21-year-old who worked here frying chickens, had been arrested outside the front door on Saturday night, on suspicion of involvement in the Parsons Green bucket bomb attack.

A man dressed as if he was homeless had, staff said, revealed himself to be an undercover police officer and helped lead the charge to arrest the refugee from Syria.

“Three blokes and a woman came running past and he was rugby tackled to the floor,” one witness told The Sun.

“The guy was screaming. The cops were shouting to get his phone. I guess because it holds important information.

“They called for back-up. They were holding him down.

“A forensic team wrapped his arms in plastic up to his biceps and his legs up to his thighs. They put plastic on his shoes then put him in overalls and plastic cuffs.”

Police release CCTV footage of alleged Parsons Green bombing suspect

“As soon as I saw them wrapping him up,” the witness added, “I knew it was really serious.”

And yet, on a quiet afternoon a day and a half later, the only visible sign of Saturday night’s arrest and subsequent police search of Aladdins was the occasional visiting TV news crew.

The formica tables of the west London chicken and burger bar filled with the usual customers – boisterous schoolchildren, passing workers, long-term regulars – some still blissfully unaware of what had happened at the weekend.

The father of the singing three-year-old girl was amazed when The Independent told him the news.

“I heard someone had been arrested in Hounslow,” said Ryadh Houchala, 42, an Uber cab driver, “But I wasn’t expecting it to be from this place.

“This is the best chicken shop in Hounslow, a family place, not for drunk people.”

“I have been coming here for 17 years,” added Mr Houchala. “All the staff seemed OK.”

Shown a photograph of Farroukh, Mr Houchala seemed to think he recognised him.

“It’s strange,” he said, “Scary.”

Suleman Sarwar, 43, one of the four blameless brothers who run Aladdins, was almost as surpised as Mr Houchala.

"This is all very overwhelming,” he admitted, “Not a thing you're equipped for or used to.”

He had not seen the arrest himself, but was soon told about it by staff, who recounted seeing an apparently homeless man reveal himself to be an undercover police officer as their hitherto unremarkable colleague was arrested.

Parsons Green attack: What we know so far

With a polite smile, Mr Sarwar fielded the questions that invariably follow a terror-related arrest.

“Not even an inkling,” he said, when asked if there had been any signs of anything suspicious in Farroukh’s behaviour. “Honest to God, no. Nothing.”

Yes, Farroukh had prayed regularly – but so had everyone else, staff and customers alike, who used the restaurant’s upstairs prayer room.

“He didn’t look outwardly religious at all,” said Mr Sarwar. “He dressed like any other twenty-something: jeans, T-shirt, no distinct beard. Very, very, very normal.”

Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion A bucket with flames and wires coming out of it was photographed in the carriage after the explosion – apparently the source of the blast AFP Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion An explosion on a packed Tube train has injured a number of people in west London AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion The blast triggered a stampede as commuters panicked AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Click through for more pictures from the scene Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosioN A police officer and a sniffer dog stand in the street near Parsons Green tube station in London, Britain September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Handout photo issued by James Treen of emergency services attending an incident at Parsons Green station in west London amid reports of an explosion. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday September 15, 2017. See PA story TRANSPORT Explosion. Photo credit should read: James Treen/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Police vehicles line the street near Parsons Green tube station in London, Britain September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion A police officer stands outside Parsons Green tube station in London, Britain September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Armed British police officers stand on duty outside Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. A Metro.co.uk reporter at the scene was quoted by the paper as saying that a white container exploded on the train and passengers had suffered facial burns. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / ===RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / @RRIGS - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS NO ARCHIVES - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS FROM FROM ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, THEREFORE AFP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIGITAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PICTURE'S EDITORIAL CONTENT, DATE AND LOCATION WHICH CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED == / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Emergency services attend the scene following a blast on an underground train at Parsons Green tube station in West London, Britain September 15, 2017, in this image taken from social media. TWITTER / @ASolopovas/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Armed British police officers stand on duty outside Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. A Metro.co.uk reporter at the scene was quoted by the paper as saying that a white container exploded on the train and passengers had suffered facial burns. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / ===RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / @RRIGS - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS NO ARCHIVES - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS FROM FROM ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, THEREFORE AFP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIGITAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PICTURE'S EDITORIAL CONTENT, DATE AND LOCATION WHICH CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED == / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Armed British police officers stand on duty outside Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. A Metro.co.uk reporter at the scene was quoted by the paper as saying that a white container exploded on the train and passengers had suffered facial burns. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / ===RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / @RRIGS - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS NO ARCHIVES - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS FROM FROM ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, THEREFORE AFP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIGITAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PICTURE'S EDITORIAL CONTENT, DATE AND LOCATION WHICH CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED == / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion Armed policemen stand by cordon near Parsons Green tube station in London, Britain September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Parsons Green explosion A woman reacts outside Parsons Green tube station in London, Britain September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Emergency services outside of Parsons Green Underground Station on September 15, 2017 in London, England. Several people have been injured after an explosion on a tube train in south-west London. The Police are treating the incident as terrorism. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: A fireman walks past the police cordon at Parsons Green Underground Station on September 15, 2017 in London, England. Several people have been injured after an explosion on a tube train in south-west London. The Police are treating the incident as terrorism. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: A tube train is seen stopped at Parsons Green Underground Station on September 15, 2017 in London, England. Several people have been injured after an explosion on a tube train in south-west London. The Police are treating the incident as terrorism. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Police officers stand by a cordon at Parsons Green Underground Station on September 15, 2017 in London, England. Several people have been injured after an explosion on a tube train in south-west London. The Police are treating the incident as terrorism. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Police forensics officers works alongside an underground tube train at a platform at Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. "We are aware of an incident at Parsons Green tube station. Officers are in attendance," London's Metropolitan Police said on Twitter. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Emergency serivces attend to the scene near Parsons Green Underground Station on September 15, 2017 in London, England. Several people have been injured after an explosion on a tube train in south-west London. The Police are treating the incident as terrorism. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Members of the emergency services work outside Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. British police are treating an incident on a London Underground train on Friday as an act of terrorism, saying "a number of people" had been injured. "Terrorist incident declared at Parsons Green Underground Station," police said in a statement. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Armed British police officers walk through the carriage of a London underground tube carriage at Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. A Metro.co.uk reporter at the scene was quoted by the paper as saying that a white container exploded on the train and passengers had suffered facial burns. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green – in pictures Members of the emergency services and armed police officers work alongside an underground tube train at a platform at Parsons Green underground tube station in west London on September 15, 2017, following an incident on an underground tube carriage at the station. Police and ambulance services said they were responding to an "incident" at Parsons Green underground station in west London on Friday, following media reports of an explosion. "We are aware of an incident at Parsons Green tube station. Officers are in attendance," London's Metropolitan Police said on Twitter. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty

Farroukh had been working at Aladdins for about six months. He only ever worked in the kitchen and never served customers. The standard of the Syrian refugee’s English, said Mr Sarwar, allowed for little else.

“His language wasn’t perfect. It was hard to communicate with him.

“He was very quiet. There wasn’t much conversation to be had from him. About the only thing I remember him saying to me was that he had a sister in Canada.”

And then came Saturday night’s arrest, shortly after Aladdins closed for the night at 11.30pm, at the end of Farroukh’s shift, which had started at about 6.30pm.

Police came to search the restaurant on Sunday night. Mr Sarwar said a team of eight plainclothes officers and three uniformed colleagues took away CCTV recordings and examined Farroukh’s locker.

“It was totally empty,” said Mr Sarwar.

The restaurant manager confirmed that the police had asked for all documentation relating to Farroukh’s employment, including photocopies of papers confirming he had permission to work in the UK.

Apart from that, though, nearly all the questions Mr Sarwar was asked related to how to get access to all areas of the restaurant.

“They already seemed to have plenty of information [on Farroukh],” said Mr Sarwar, “More than I could give them.”

"I hope that the police get to the bottom of this," he added.

Parsons Green bombing: Arrest is 'very significant' says Rudd

But after an arrest that seemed so shocking to him, Mr Sarwar certainly wasn’t going to jump to any conclusions.

Farroukh had yet to be charged with any offence, he cautioned, when asked to speculate about how the chicken shop worker might have turned jihadi.

“We still don’t know whether or not he was turned,” said Mr Sarwar. “Obviously the police have found something to say they should arrest him, but I simply don’t know if he really has done something.”

As the schoolkids jostled and chatted, as a father told his three-year-old daughter to eat her chips nicely, “one by one”, there was no denying it was hard to associate Aladdins with the location for anything like a counter-terrorism arrest.