16 held in British terror swoops

London - Sixteen men were arrested in two separate incidents in London and Manchester during anti-terrorism raids in Britain Saturday.

Fourteen of the men were arrested in south and east London in a "pre-planned intelligence-led operation," a statement from Scotland Yard said.

Scotland Yard said later that police were searching a location East Sussex, southern England. It was reported that about 100 officers are examining what is believed to be an Islamic school.

CNN's Robin Oakley reported that the arrests began at a Chinese restaurant in London.

After months of surveillance, officers arrested the men on suspicion of the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism," the statement said. In addition, some of the suspects may be involved with setting up terror camps, a Scotland Yard official said.

They are being held in a central London police station under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000.

Officials did not link the 14 arrests to earlier arrests of more than 20 people in connection with an alleged plot by a group of British Muslims to blow up U.S.-bound airliners using liquid explosive, the statement said.

North of London in Manchester, Greater Manchester Police arrested two men under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000 and conducted searches at three residents in the Cheetham Hill area, a police official said.

The two arrests were made in connection with a police operation that took place August 23 which led to the arrest of a man who is still in custody, police said.

One of the raids took place at a south London restaurant packed with diners shortly after 10 p.m. Friday.

There were between 60 and 70 people at the Bridge to China Town restaurant last night where the majority of the people were thought to have been arrested, the UK's Press Association reported.

As a halal restaurant, it regularly attracts the Muslim community and serves no alcohol. Beneath the Chinese restaurant is a Persian restaurant called Iran e Ma, which is also thought to have been searched by the police.

Teenager Ross Jackson, who lives opposite, told PA he saw about 50 police officers, many in riot gear, pull up outside the restaurant. The 18-year-old said: "There were about eight police vans and a large number of police in riot gear.

Jackson said: "At about 10.30 I heard some big skids on the road and doors being shut and then I looked out of the window and I saw police jumping out on to the road and running to the restaurant.

"I was looking out of the window watching them and I saw the police in the restaurant standing around some man -- he looked like a Muslim."

Another neighbor, who did not wish to be named, said he saw a man wearing a long robe and a head-dress being taken away by police.

He told PA he saw a large group of what looked like Muslims sitting in one corner of the restaurant.

"They come here quite often but I haven't seen such a large group here before, they were sitting altogether in the corner."

The restaurant's owner, Madi Blyani, told the BBC up to 60 officers entered the restaurant, which is popular with Muslims.

"They suddenly came inside because they were suspicious of some of the customers. ... They talked to them for more than one hour, two hours, and they arrested some of them. So it was obviously surprising for me, my staff, for everyone," he said.

Scotland Yard said later that police were searching a location in Mark Cross, East Sussex following the 14 arrests.

A spokesman told PA: "We are conducting a search in East Sussex in relation to the arrests today." It is reported that about 100 officers are examining what is believed to be an Islamic school, PA said.

Police arrested 25 people in raids on August 9-10 in an alleged plot to bomb as many as 10 planes flying from Britain to America. Fifteen of those have since been charged, five have been released and five are being held without charge.

Peter Clarke, head of Metropolitan Police anti-terror efforts, said police and intelligence agents were now attempting to track thousands of people believed to be directly or indirectly involved in terrorism, according to comments made public Friday, The Associated Press reports.

The threat from homegrown terrorism was increasing in Britain, he told the BBC in an interview to be broadcast on September 3, an advance transcript said.

"What we've learnt since 9/11 is that the threat is not something that's simply coming from overseas into the United Kingdom," Clarke said.

"What we've learned, and what we've seen all too graphically and all too murderously, is that we have a threat which is being generated here within the United Kingdom." -- The Associated Press

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