British police raided a number of homes in the northern city of Manchester on Tuesday under the country's anti-terror laws, a spokesman said.

"As a consequence of an arrest of a man in Manchester yesterday a number of addresses have been searched under the Terrorism Act 2000," a Greater Manchester Police spokesman told Reuters.

"Investigations are at an early stage and are ongoing."

The spokesman said three properties had been raided in the Rusholme district of the city. He believed there had been a number of arrests but could not confirm this.

Another police source she believed those arrested were held under immigration laws. She said no more details were immediately available.

Britain, a key ally of the United States' war on terror, has arrested more than 600 terror suspects since the Sept 11. 2001 attacks.

Source: Xinhua