Terror arrest near Navy base

Police who arrested a man outside a Royal Navy base under the Terrorism Act said today they have seized filming equipment.

The 38-year-old was detained by officers near the Whale Island naval establishment in Portsmouth, Hants, yesterday afternoon and he remains in police custody.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "Police were called at around 2.15pm to reports of suspicious behaviour at the site.

"The man, who's believed to be from the South West of England, was detained in a white panel van parked outside the establishment.

"As part of our investigation, officers seized filming equipment from the van and detectives are in the process of questioning the man at a police station in Hampshire.

"From our initial enquiries, there is there is nothing to suggest there was any immediate risk to the public."

Hampshire police initially said the man had been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after reports he was seen "engaged in suspicious activity" near to the base.

The man was not on Ministry of Defence property at the time he was arrested.

Whale Island is home to the shore training establishment HMS Excellent, which prepares personnel for life at sea, and also the Commander In Chief Fleet.