Police believe they have thwarted an active terror plot after a raid in north London which saw a woman shot and injured by officers.

Six people were arrested during the operation in Willesden on Thursday evening.

Hours earlier, officers swooped on a man carrying a bag of knives in Whitehall, a stone's throw from Downing Street.

A woman in her 20s was shot during the Willesden operation and remains under police guard after being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu, senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism policing, said: "Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, in both cases I believe that we have contained the threats that they pose."

Pressed by reporters on whether they had foiled an active plot, Mr Basu replied: "Yes."

He said no further details about the plot could be released because it is a "live investigation" with "people under arrest" who will be interviewed by detectives.

Firearms officers fired CS gas into the property, which was under observation as part of a current counter-terrorism operation, Mr Basu said.

A total of six people were arrested in connection with the raid, including five at or near the address in North London and one person at an address in Kent.

Two of the further arrests were made when a man and a woman, both aged 28, returned to the address later that night, he said.

Searches are ongoing at three London addresses.