Ninth person arrested over 'terror plot'

A ninth person has been arrested by police investigating an alleged terror plot in Birmingham.

It is understood that the ninth person was arrested on a motorway near Birmingham.

Eight people were arrested earlier under the Terrorism Act following a number of raids in the Sparkhill and Alum Rock areas in the east of the city around 4am on Wednesday morning.

A number of addresses have been secured and sealed off and are currently being searched by officers. Police have not confirmed any of the raided addresses.

The operation, which was led by the Midlands counter terrorism unit, involved officers from both West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police.

It is understood that the eight suspects were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act.

It is thought that the alleged plot involved kidnapping a member of the British Armed Forces and posting a video of them being tortured and killed on the internet.

According to reports, the alleged target is believed to be a British Muslim soldier in his twenties, who is reported to now be under police protection.

(KMcA)