Police hold nine as plot foiled

Nine men were being questioned by anti-terror police today after an alleged plot to kidnap and behead a Muslim soldier was smashed.

The suspects were reportedly being held at a police station in Coventry following 4am raids across Birmingham yesterday.

Eight of the group were held as police raided 12 addresses in the Sparkhill, Washwood Heath, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas of the second city.

Eight homes and four businesses, including the Maktabah bookshop and Khan General Store, where targeted.

In a dramatic twist, a planned press conference yesterday afternoon was delayed as a ninth arrest was made - this time on a motorway in the Birmingham area.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Shaw said the arrests had come after months of planning by different agencies. He said it had "given us the confidence to ensure that we've taken the right action."

He said: "This is a dynamic, fluid investigation. It's by no means finished."

He warned that some of the searches would take days to complete, and called for the residents to show patience and allow officers to work. He urged the media to show restraint so as not to prejudice any future court case.