A man and a woman from Oxford have been taken into custody on suspicion of funding terrorism as part of an inquiry by Counter Terrorism Policing, with properties in the city being searched.

The pair, a man aged 50 and a woman aged 35, both from Oxford, were detained on Thursday March 26 on suspicion of providing money for terrorist purposes under section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East, assisted by Thames Valley Police, are executing searches at a property in the city.

Supt Jen Hogben, of Thames Valley Police, stated that while arrests of this kind may concern some community members, they form part of a pre-arranged operation directed by Counter Terrorism Policing South East and there is no immediate danger to the public.

She added that they would continue to support Counter Terrorism Policing South East during the investigation.

Residents in the Cowley area should expect to see more officers in the area while searches continue. Anyone with concerns can contact police.

The man and woman remain in custody.

Temple Cowley city councillor Sajjad Malik said he holds regular quarterly meetings with the local Cowley Police Neighbourhood Team and had not been informed of any immediate threat to the public.

Cowley city councillors Dr Amar Latif and Ian Yeatman have been asked to comment.

This development comes a week after a 16-year-old from Didcot, who cannot be identified because of his age, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on charges linked to supporting Islamic State following a separate investigation.

The teenager faces seven terrorism-related charges and is alleged to have stored weapons, explosives and a suicide vest at his family home, the court was told.

He allegedly had 17 knives, including machetes, in his bedroom when counter terrorism officers searched the property on March 12, and investigators believe he distributed Islamic State propaganda about attacks in Paris along with footage showing battlefield explosions and killings.

The boy, who converted to Islam during his teenage years, is also alleged to have possessed swords and a knuckleduster, in addition to home-made explosives.

Alongside the terrorism charges, the boy has been accused of failing to provide police with access to his phone while in custody after his arrest.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday March 19, where Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered him held in secure accommodation for young defendants.

Through his legal representative, the boy entered not guilty pleas to all eight charges.

The charges indicate he sent a video featuring Islamic State footage and Paris attacks to a relative in November last year, and in the following month distributed a battlefield video showing Islamic State material.

When arrested, he is alleged to have had the Islamic State publication Inspire 1, a document titled 100 Deadly Skills, a suicide vest, an assortment of knives and swords, and home-made improvised explosive devices.

The boy is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey for another hearing on April 17.