Dover kebab shops in terrorism searches

POLICE forensic teams have been searching two takeaway shops in Dover district in connection with an arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000.

A police team moved in on Dolphin Kebab and Fish Bar in Dover High Street and Countryside Kebabs, in Cornwallis Avenue, Aylesham, on Monday evening. This morning the teams of crime scene experts were combing both premises.

The search of the takeaways, one thought to be run by a Turkish man from Hawkinge and the other registered to a 36-year-old man with the same surname from Dover, is in connection with an arrest on Monday morning.

Police swooped on an unnamed man, from Curlew Close, Hawkinge, at 8.45am Monday as he drove a black BMW X5 on the White Horse Hill roundabout.

Plain clothes police also entered a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Curlew Close, closing the road to all except for residents.

The arrested man is being questioned at a Kent police station. He is being held on suspicion of being engaged in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Neighbouring shop owners in Dover High Street voiced surprise at the forensic team presence Tuesday morning.

One businessman said: "I saw the police van there last night and then this morning there were all the police in white suits in there.

"I chat to the man who runs the shop quite a lot. He lives in Hawkinge and used to own a fish bar there. He seemed nice."

Another said: "They seem to be searching the back and upstairs rather than the shop."

A police spokesman confirmed the search is in connection with the arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 made on Monday.

She said: "The police activity is related to an arrest in Hawkinge under the terrorism act and is part of ongoing enquiries."

The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command is not involved in the operation.