The Surrey home raided by police responding to the Parsons Green bombing is registered to an elderly couple who were awarded by MBEs by Queen Elizabeth for their work fostering children.
Penelope and Ronald Jones, 71 and 88, were recognised for serving children and families on 2009’s New Year’s Honours list.
Neighbours described them as “beautiful people”.
But on Saturday their home was at the centre of a fast moving counter-terrorist investigation.
The couple had taken in at least 268 children over four decades, according to an undated interview with Elmbridge CAN, a group which aims to "to build a culture of welcome to refugees".
In the interview Mrs Jones said fostering "had its ups and downs", adding: "They're all children, it doesn't matter if they're sky blue or with pink dots on them - they just need to be loved."
She and her husband are believed to have looked after at least eight refugee children.
Long-time family friend Serena Barber, 45, said: "Penny's a wonderful foster mother. She takes everyone, she doesn't turn anyone away."
On receiving their awards eight years ago, Mrs Jones said of fostering: "We do it because we find it rewarding ... Helping other people is rewarding, and I treat them how I would like to be treated if I was in that situation."
Residents of Cavendish Road, Sunbury, where the raid took place, were evacuated on Saturday.
Some were given just one minute to leave their homes.
The raid followed the "very significant" arrest of an 18-year-old in Dover in connection with the bombing.
The suspect is now being held in a London police station.
