Police are still searching a house in Stratford where three men were arrested on suspicion on terrorism offences this morning.

The terraced property in Abbey Road was raided by officers who are thought to have used a device to break open the door.

The trio, aged 18, 24, and 26, were detained as part of a pre-planned operation. The 24-year-old was tasered during his arrest but did not need hospital treatment.

They are still in custody for questioning.

One of the suspects is understood to have attended Rokeby School in Barking Road, and had recently got married.

Neighbour Mark Window, who also lives in Brasset Point, which overlooks the house, said he was woken up by the sound of “one big bang, and then sounds like little firecrackers.”

He said: “I looked out and saw loads of people going in and out and then just milling around, they looked like ninjas, and a couple of them looked like they were wearing gas masks.

“Of course it was a big shock. A lot of people round here keep themselves to themselves. You see people going in and out of the house but nothing unusual.

Mohammed Malik, who also lives in the block of flats, said it was occupied by a family of two brothers and one older woman.

He said: “They are a Bangladeshi family, I have seen them quite often going in out but they are quiet like everybody else.

“The noise woke me up at exactly 4.15am, it was two or three bangs. You hear noises but you just think it’s from the scaffolding (on Brasset Point).”

Sarah Nelson, of Abbey Road, said: “As soon as I heard it, I thought it was a terrorist attack and we are all going to die.

“It must have woken everybody up.”

The Metropolitan Police said the operation was not linked to the Olympic Games

As part of the enquiry, two men, aged 21 and 29, and a woman, 30, were also arrested in west London this morning.

All have been taken to a south-east London police station where they remain in custody.

A total of eight properties and one business premises are being searched today in east, west and north London under the Terrorism Act 2000.