Four alleged members of banned neo-Nazi group arrested by anti-terror police

Four alleged members of banned neo-Nazi group National Action have been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terror, West Midlands Police said.

The men - a 22-year-old from Birmingham, a 32-year-old from Powys, a 24-year-old from Ipswich and a 24-year-old from Northampton - were detained as part of a "pre-planned and intelligence-led" operation and there was "no threat to the public's safety", the force said.

In a statement, the police said the suspects were arrested "on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000; namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation (National Action) contrary to sec 11 of the Terrorism Act".

All four are being held at a police station in the West Midlands and a number of properties are being searched.

The arrests were carried out with West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit in conjunction with the Wales Extremism Counter Terrorism Unit and the East Midlands CTIU.

National Action became first extreme right-wing group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016.