Eyewitnesses at the scene of an anti-terror operation in Rochdale described hearing an 'explosion and gunfire' before an arrest was made yesterday. <br /><br />Eight men - including seven Iranian nationals - were arrested in two separate counter-terrorism police investigations at locations across the UK on May 3. <br /><br />The man arrested in Rochdale was one of five people arrested by counter-terror police across Greater Manchester, London, and Swindon on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism.<br /><br />Scotland Yard confirmed a further three Iranian nationals were also arrested in London yesterday.<br /><br />However, they added the investigation is not connected to the arrest of the other five men.
