The home secretary has ordered the police and MI5 to conduct a major programme of arrests of alleged terrorists and their supporters.

David Blunkett told the BBC yesterday that he had authorised the security services "to take whatever steps necessary, controversial or otherwise, without fear or favour, to take action to protect us".

He added: "They will be taking that action in the weeks ahead very clearly indeed."

Blunkett's comments came just hours before police launched an anti-terror swoop on north London's controversial Finsbury Park mosque.

Scotland Yard said the raid was linked to the ricin investigation.