Four serving British Army personnel have been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack in the West Midlands and being members of banned neo-Nazi group.
West Midlands Police said the men being held are a 24-year-old from Northampton, a 24-year-old from Ipswich, a 32-year-old-man from Powys and a 22-year-old from Birmingham.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) have confirmed that they are all serving members of the British Armed Forces.
The men were arrested “on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism… namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation (National Action) contrary to sec 11 of the Terrorism Act”.
They are being detained at a police station in the West Midlands police station while numerous properties are being searched.
Police said the arrests, which were carried out by counter-terrorism officers from the West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales, were “planned and intelligence-led with no threat to public safety”.
A statement from the MoD said: “We can confirm that a number of serving members of the Army have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for being associated with a proscribed far right group.
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“These arrests are the consequence of a Home Office Police Force led operation supported by the Army.”
The neo-Nazi group “National Action” was proscribed last December by the Home Secretary, rendering it a criminal offence to be a member.
Two sources who wish to remain anonymous told 5Pillars that the men were planning to attack mosques in the West Midlands.
Updates to follow.
