A MAN who lived in a flat raided by counter-terror police was a Libyan training to be a pilot, it has been claimed.

Officers swooped on a flat in Brunswick Road, Shoreham, this morning and arrested a 23-year-old man for terrorism offences.

Neighbours named the man living in the flat as Aladine, and said he was of Libyan descent.

Speaking this morning, they told of their shock, describing him as being clean-shaven, young, warm and friendly.

Neighbour Sam Hales, 29, returned home after a night shift to find police cars outside.

He had to prove his identity to enter his home, and inside saw officers standing guard outside the door to the top-floor flat they had raided at around 4am.

He said: “It’s so scary when it comes so close to home. It’s literally on my doorstep.

“It’s not something you expect to happen. You’d never think that it would happen here.”

He described his upstairs neighbour as 5ft 11in, of middle eastern appearance, with short dark hair. He said he did not have a beard and wore jeans and t-shirts – never muslim religious dress – and looked “like any other bloke”.

Mr Hales’ girlfriend, Polly Child, who lives nearby, said: “It feels weird and very worrying for my kids. I’ve spent all week reassuring them this is nothing to do with Shoreham but now they’re quite upset.”

Her daughter Lucy, seven, went to her room in tears after learning what had happened around the corner.

Violet Maimda, who owns the salon below the flat, knew her upstairs neighbour as Aladine and cut his hair. She said: “He’s a friendly guy. I was shocked when I heard. He is a jovial guy, a good guy.

“He told me he came from Libya. He said he studied at the airport as a pilot. He trained at Shoreham. He’d finished his training.”

A spokeswoman for Shoreham Airport could not confirm or deny the man had any affiliation to a flight school at Shoreham.

Throughout the day the entrance to the flats at 9 Brunswick Road remained guarded by Sussex Police, while uniformed search teams came and went and helicopters circled overhead.

Fiona Murdoch, an acupuncturist who lives and works across the road, also knew the man in the flat as Aladine.

She said: “He’s just friendly, really lovely. He kisses you on both cheeks to say hello.”

Sussex Police issued a statement to say the operation was “in its infancy” and Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said officers were working closely with community groups.

He added that there would be extra patrols in Shoreham over the next few days.

Greater Manchester Police said a 23-year-old was arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to the terrorism act but had not been charged.

He is the 16th suspect to be arrested since Salman Abedi, the son of Libyan refugees, blew himself up at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester last week killing 22, including an eight-year-old girl, and maiming more than 100.

Anyone who notices suspicious behaviour should call the Anti-Terror hotline on 0800 789321.