Three more men appeared in a London court on Wednesday accused of terror offences, including building a makeshift bomb, following a string of arrests last week.
Anzal Hussain, 24, Mohammed Saud and Zohaib Ahmed, both 22, were charged on Tuesday with preparing for an act or acts of terrorism between May 1 and July 4. The trio, all from Birmingham, central England, was remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London, where they spoke only to confirm their personal details. Their alleged activities include the manufacture of an improvised explosive device, the acquisition of firearms and other weapons, and the purchase of motor vehicles connected with their plans. The charges follow a series of arrests by counter-terrorism officers last week, which police stressed were not related to the London Olympics beginning later this month.
Seven men were detained after officers found shotguns, a nail bomb and machetes in a Renault Laguna car travelling along the M1 motorway near the city of Sheffield, northern England, on June 30. Police later found a note in the vehicle addressed to the “English Drunkards League” — an apparent reference to the far-right group the English Defence League (EDL). The EDL, which strongly opposes what it calls “radical Islam’s encroachment into the lives of non-Muslims”, was holding a rally that day in the Yorkshire town of Dewsbury.
The court heard that Hussain, Saud and Ahmed, who were arrested on July 4, were allegedly travelling in a gold-coloured Rover car which was in a convoy with the Laguna. The three are due to appear at the Old Bailey central criminal court in London on July 31.
