West Midlands police have said that six men and one man from West Yorkshire have been detained on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism (Terrorism Act 2000) during a series of arrests this week.
Three were detained on Tuesday morning whilst three were detained on Wednesday evening. Yesterday one was detained evening. Six are in their twenties and from the Sparkhill, Moseley, Alum Rock and Smethwick areas of the West Midlands with a 43 year old from Kirklees, West Yorkshire.
Police say the arrests happened following a routine stop of a vehicle by police on the M1 motorway in South Yorkshire on Saturday (June 30th). The car was impounded on suspicion of having no insurance. Firearms, offensive weapons and other material were later found hidden inside, prompting police to take action to trace and arrest the driver, passenger and others suspected of being involved.
Police say the items from the vehicle are currently undergoing forensic analysis and searches are or have been carried out at the addresses of those in custody.
West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit is leading the investigation. Head of the unit, Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, said: "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.
