Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has thanked police and security services "for the action they have taken to keep our country safe" following two major counter-terrorism operations.

Eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, were arrested in separate investigations across England on Saturday.

"These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats," Cooper said.

Five men were arrested on Saturday as part of a "pre-planned" investigation into a plot to "target a specific premises", the Metropolitan Police said.

Four of the men are Iranian nationals - two aged 29, one aged 40 and one aged 46. The nationality and age of the fifth man is still being established.