Three young women have been arrested under anti-terrorism laws in east London in connection with a security operation in the British capital last week. Picture: AFP

Three women, two aged 18 and one 19, were on Monday held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts, the Metropolitan Police force said.

“The arrests were made as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation in connection with an address on Harlesden Road,” the police said in a statement, referring to the location of a raid by armed counter-terrorism officers in northwest London on Thursday evening.

Three women have been arrested under anti-terrorism laws in east London. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Monday’s arrests came days after a man was nabbed carrying knives near Prime Minister Theresa May’s office in Westminster, and just over a month after a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

On Thursday, armed counter-terrorism officers using tear gas stormed the house in the Willesden area and shot a woman in her 20s.

She was released from hospital on Sunday, then herself arrested on suspicion of committing terror offences.

A further six people were also arrested in connection with the incident, including five at or near the Willesden address, which had been under observation by police, and one in Kent.

Britain has been on its second-highest alert level of “severe” since August 2014, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

Tourists take photographs as armed police officers stand guard outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Picture: AFPSource:AFP