Seven Terror Suspects Arrested After Guns Found in M1 Car

Seven men have been arrested on terror offences after guns were discovered in a routine traffic stop.

The men, six of whom are from the West Midlands and one from West Yorkshire, were detained on suspicion of the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism" under the terrorism act 2000.

The arrests followed a routine police stop in June 30 on the M1 motorway in South Yorkshire. Officers impounded the car due to a lack of insurance.

Later searches of the car revealed guns, other weapons and additional materials that led to police seeking out the driver, passenger and others under suspicion of planned terrorist acts.

Three of the men were arrested on July 3, three the following day and one the day after tthat. Six of them are in their twenties and from Sparkhill, Moseley, Alum Rock and Smethwick. A 43-year-old from Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

Police confirmed that the items in the vehicle are currently undergoing forensic analysis, while the suspects' homes are searched.

"As soon as the items were discovered in the impounded vehicle, our priority was to protect the public by pursuing and arresting those we believed to be involved. Our enquiries are ongoing" said Det Chief Sup Kenny Bell, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

The three suspects picked up on Tuesday have already been subject to a warrant of further detention to give the police more time to charge, release or apply for a further warrant.

These arrests came justa day after six people were detained over an alleged terrorist plot.