Three men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in London this morning after an attack on the home of a publisher who was planning to release a novel critical of Islam. A woman was also arrested for obstructing police.

The men, aged 22, 30 and 40, were arrested “on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”, a police spokesman said.

Police said two of the men were cornered in the street by armed officers near the publisher's home in Lonsdale Square in the fashionable Islington district of north London at about 2.25am. The third man was arrested close to the Angel underground station about half a mile (1km) away.

Neighbours said armed police, assisted by firefighters, broke down the door of the home. Francesca Liebowitz, 16, who lives a few doors away with her parents, said: “The police couldn’t get the door open so the fire brigade battered it down.

“There was smoke coming from around the door, but I don’t know whether that was because of the door being broken down. They evacuated people from the house.

“It’s a bit scary to have this happen on your doorstep; nothing like this has ever happened round here before.”

There were unconfirmed reports that some form of petrol bomb had been pushed through the letterbox of the house.

The house is used as a home and office by publisher Martin Rynja. His company, Gibson Square, recently agreed to publish a controversial novel about the prophet Muhammad and his child bride, entitled The Princess of the Medina.

A neighbour and friend of Mr Rynja said the company normally published books on current affairs, and said the publisher had never expressed concerns that his work might endanger his safety.

A green hoarding covered the doorway to the four storey townhouse this afternoon.

Four properties in north-east London - two in Walthamstow, one in Ilford and another in Forest Gate - are being searched. A woman was arrested for obstructing the police at the Ilford property.

The police spokesman said the arrests were intelligence led and no details of what the men may have been planning were released. The men are being questioned at a central London police station and the woman is at an east London station.

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