“The two arrests we have made are directly linked, and the result of a long-running inquiry led by Det Supt Neil Malkin.

“There has been no danger to the surrounding community and we have no information anyone has been targeted. We have been keeping an open mind as the search has continued.

“The use of the terrorism legislation shows we are prepared to take a robust approach to all forms of extremism.

“We would ask anyone in the area with concerns of this kind to contact their local neighbourhood policing team.”

Just as families around Ian Davison’s Burnopfield house were stunned at the suspicion of terrorist activity happening within metres of their children’s school yesterday, the community around Nicky Davison’s Annfield Plain home were last night still shocked at his arrest.

Next door neighbour and mum-of-three Coreena Talbot, 39, said: “We haven’t had that much to do with them, but they always seemed like a normal family.

“The idea anyone around here could be involved in racist activity is worrying. You just don’t expect it to happen in your community.

“You see people come and go but you don’t think for a moment they’re involved in anything dodgy.

“It makes you sit up and take notice to think anything of this kind can happen around here.

“If there has been anything of that kind going on I’m just happy the police are involved.”