Five men arrested under terrorism act

Five men were arrested today in England under the Terrorism Act, police said.

The men, aged 29 to 36, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism, West Midlands Police said.

Officers swooped on five residential addresses in Birmingham at about 6am today.

A further two business properties have also been searched following a “long and complex investigation” by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

A police spokeswoman said the arrests were not related to any immediate plot or threat to public safety.