British police charge four under terrorism laws

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) Four men have been charged under anti-terrorism laws after a series of police raids in the central English city of Birmingham last week, British police said today.

A fifth man was released without charge, while two other men were still being held for questioning.

''Four men have been charged this evening with offences under the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006,'' police said in a joint statement with the Crown Prosecution Service. They did not give any further details of the charges.

The men, aged 30, 31, 36 and 43, were due to appear in court later today. They all come from the Birmingham area.

Police said they would hold a joint news conference with the prosecution service at 1430 IST.

Detectives investigating a suspected plot to kidnap and kill a British Muslim soldier arrested nine men in raids on Wednesday last week. Two of the other men were released without charge earlier this week.

REUTERS DKS BST0744