Trio remanded on terrorism charges

Three men appeared in court today in connection with terrorism charges.

Anzal Hussain, 24, Mohammed Saud and Zohaib Ahmed, both 22, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged under Section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

They are jointly accused of preparing an act or acts of terrorism between May 1 and July 4 this year.

The three men, all from Birmingham, face an allegation that they took part in activities including 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 charges follow a series of arrests made last week by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, assisted by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

Three other terror suspects appeared at the same court yesterday charged with similar offences after shotguns, a nail bomb, machetes and a note addressed to a right-wing group were found in a car stopped by police on the M1 motorway.

Jewel Uddin, 26, Omar Mohammed Khan, 27, and Mohammed Hasseen, 23, were arrested after a routine stop of a Renault Laguna by police near Sheffield on Saturday June 30.

It was alleged that a cache of weapons was found in that vehicle along with a note addressed to the English Defence League, which was planning a rally in South Yorkshire that day.

The court heard today that Hussain, Saud and Ahmed, who were arrested on July 4, were allegedly travelling in a gold Rover which was in a convoy with the Laguna.

The three men spoke briefly in court to confirm their personal details.

No applications for bail were made and Deputy Chief Magistrate Daphne Wickham remanded them in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on July 31.

PA