Three in court on terror charges after firearms found in car

Three men will appear in court today charged with terrorism offences after firearms were found in a car stopped by police on the M1.

West Midlands Police said Jewel Uddin 26, Omar Mohammed Khan, 27, and Mohammed Hasseen, 23, would appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London to answer charges under the 2006 Terrorism Act.

The defendants, all from Sparkhill in Birmingham, were arrested last week along with four other men who are still being questioned by West Midlands Police.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said the Crown Prosecution Service had advised that Khan, Uddin and Hasseen should be charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for an act or acts of terrorism, with the intention of committing such acts.

The alleged conduct between May 1 and July 4 this year includes the manufacture of an improvised explosive device, the acquisition of firearms and other weapons, and the purchase of motor vehicles connected with the charges.

The spokeswoman said officers had until Wednesday to charge, release or apply for a warrant of further detention for three of the other four men who remain in police custody.

The fourth man can be held until Thursday.

Last week's arrests followed a routine stop of a vehicle by police on the M1 near Sheffield in South Yorkshire on Saturday June 30.

The car was impounded on suspicion of having no insurance and firearms and other material were later found inside.

Those who remain in custody are a 24-year-old from Moseley, Birmingham; a 22-year-old man from Alum Rock, Birmingham; a 22-year-old from Smethwick, and a male aged 43 from the Kirklees area.

PA