A serving member of the British armed forces has been arrested on suspicion of Northern Ireland-related terrorism offences.

The 30-year-old man was arrested in Somerset by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command.

The arrest, which happened at 12.20pm on Wednesday, was "pre-planned and intelligence-led", police said.

Searches are being conducted at an address in south Devon and in a wooded area in the county.

Police said there was no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat to public safety.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation."

Haul of weapons found

It is understood the arrest is linked to two suspected dissident republican arsenals uncovered in forest parks in Northern Ireland earlier this year. Two separate hauls of weapons were discovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks near Larne, Co Antrim, within three months of each other.

An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered at Capanagh in May.

Several pipe bombs, magazines and ammunition for an assault rifle as well as bomb component parts and command wires were also concealed in barrels in purpose-built holes in woodland.

In March, bomb-making items were found at nearby Carnfunnock Country Park.

'Significant' arrest

ITV News Security Editor Rohit Kachroo said the fact the detainee is a serving member of the armed forces is "significant".

In May, MI5 raised the official terror threat level in the UK from Northern Ireland-related terrorism to substantial, meaning a terror attack on British soil is a "strong possibility".

The threat to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism is severe.