POLICE have stressed that they are not aware of any specific threat to Greater Manchester after two men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Whitefield this week.

They issued a statement in response to reports that officers had foiled a terror plot after making a discovery at the home in Victoria Avenue.

The men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested at the address on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

A warrant for the continued detention of the pair was granted on Wednesday and will expire on Monday.

Bomb disposal officers were called to the house to make assessments on Monday morning after reports of suspicious items.

A number of streets were subsequently taped off, residents in nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. and nearby Whitefield Community Primary School was put on a lockdown until it was safe for pupils to leave.

The bomb squad returned to the street on Tuesday, though it is understood that no specific targets have been identified by police yet.

A police spokesman said: “Two people remain in custody. Specialist detectives are doing everything they can to establish the facts.

“We would like to stress that, at this stage of our investigation, we are not aware of any specific threat to local people or events taking place in Greater Manchester.

“We will of course provide updates when possible.”