More than 40 police officers have removed a structure at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra after a pre-dawn raid.

One tent embassy resident was arrested within minutes of the police raid which began shortly before 6:00am AEST.

It took about three quarters of an hour for police to winch the structure onto a tow truck and take it away to a secure location.

While they worked, embassy residents shouted abuse and waved flags at the ring of officers.

The tent embassy's main building was virtually destroyed in a suspected arson attack last month.

Authorities claimed it was a safety hazard but the embassy said it was heritage listed.