Four men arrested over neo-Nazi link

Four men suspected of being members of a banned neo-Nazi group called National Action have been arrested on terror charges, West Midlands Police say.

Those being held are a 22-year-old from Birmingham, a 32-year-old man from Powys, a 24-year-old from Ipswich and a 24-year-old from Northampton.

All four are being held at a police station in the West Midlands.

Police said a number of properties were being searched in connection with the arrests.

They said the arrests had been pre-planned and intelligence-led, and there had been no threat to the public's safety.

The men are being held 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 members of a proscribed organisation.

'Broken right-wing'

National Action, a British far-right group, was banned last year by Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Being a member of - or inviting support for - a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

National Action describes itself as a "National Socialist youth organisation" and says its movement is aimed at the "broken right-wing".

Ms Rudd called it "a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation".

The official register of proscribed groups says it was established in 2013 and has branches across the UK which "conduct provocative street demonstrations and stunts aimed at intimidating local communities".

It is particularly aimed at recruiting young people, according to the list.