Man arrested at Heathrow on terror offences as he prepares to board Saudi-bound flight

Officers from Scotland Yard's Counter-terrorism Command have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of terrorism offences. The man was about to board a flight to Saudi Arabia when he was detained by police. A house in west London is being searched and a number of electrical items have been seized.

Security at airports is extremely tight following the attacks at Brussels Zaventem airport on 22 March. Then, 32 people died and on the city's metro system when suicide bombers blew up their devices. However it is not thought the flight to Saudi Arabia, or Heathrow airport itself, were at risk following the arrest on Monday (20 June).

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "A man has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of possessing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

"The 29-year-old man was stopped as he was about to board a flight to Saudi Arabia on the afternoon of Monday, 20 June. He was initially detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act and subsequently arrested. He has been taken to a London police station where he remains in custody.

"An address in west London is being searched by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15). A number of electronic devices have been seized for further examination in connection with this investigation. Inquiries are ongoing."

In April, a man was arrested at Gatwick Airport as part of an investigation linked to the Brussels attacks. Also that month, a teenager from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of committing "Syria-related terrorism offences". There has also been an increase in arrests of people returning to the UK from countries including Syria.