Central terrorism

A Birmingham man has been arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act concerning the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The 27-year-old was arrested on Sunday afternoon following the discovery of suspicious items at his home on Naseby Road in Alum Rock, Birmingham. There was no immediate risk to the public.

Houses in the street were temporarily evacuated as a precautionary measure while experts from West Midlands Police, the fire service and army conducted safety checks on the items.

Birmingham police officers had been searching the address having arrested the man at around 1.40am on suspicion of going equipped and possession of an offensive weapon.

Detectives now have until Tuesday morning to question the man.

Anyone with information which may help should call police on 101or the national Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

West Midlands counter terror officers have charged five people with Syria-related terrorism offences. The two men and three women are all from Walsall. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates court tomorrow.

Yesterday, a 37 year old man from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of engaging in terrorism in Syria at Birmingham Airport.

He has now been released on conditional bail until 3 September whilst enquiries continue.

The man was arrested after arriving on a flight from Instanbul. The arrest was pre-planned, intelligence led and there was no risk to the public.

West Midlands Counter Terrorism officers have arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism in the UK. The pair, aged 24 and 23, were arrested in Reading and Wokingham at 7.30pm this evening.

Officers say the pair didn't pose an imminent threat to the public.

West Midlands Police is launching a security workshop to help local businesses join them in the fight against terrorism.

A range of activities to raise awareness of the threat from violent extremism will focus on five key areas: crowded places, transport hubs, preventing violent extremism, terrorist financing, and the tools that terrorists need to operate.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, from West Midlands Police, will tell an audience of business representatives in Birmingham this morning that the recent increase in the terrorism threat level demonstrates the need for everyone to work together to tackle terrorism.

Six men from Birmingham are due to be sentenced for preparing to carry out an attack on a rally of the right wing group the English Defence League.

The men only failed in their deadly plan because the gathering in Dewsbury in West Yorkshire finished earlier than expected.

Jewel Uddin, 27, Omar Mohammed Khan, 31, Mohammed Hasseen, 24, Anzal Hussain, 25, Mohammed Saud, 23, and Zohaib Ahmed, 22, all from Birmingham, are all due to appear at the Old Bailey.

Their sentencing comes amid fresh publicity surrounding the EDL in the wake of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, and increased tensions between various political and religious factions.

Eleven Birmingham men behind a terror cell intent on causing 'mass murder,' have today been sentenced for their part in the plot.

The ringleader was today given five life sentences. His plan was to build bombs and orchestrate a wave of suicide attacks in the UK – although no specific targets had been agreed.

The Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has released a statement following the sentencing of 11 terrorists from Birmingham.

Marcus Beale said the excellent work by West Midlands Police and Security Services led to the plot being interrupted.