Man arrested in anti terrorism raid

West Midlands police headquarters in Birmingham

Police in Birmingham have raided a house as part of an investigation into international terrorism, it has emerged.

Officers from West Midlands Police arrested a man and seized a substance during a raid on a property in the Sparkbrook area of the city early on Friday.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Following information received, West Midlands Police have conducted searches of a number of premises under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

"These inquiries are connected to international terrorism and are not related to Irish affairs.

Further examination

"We can confirm that one man has been arrested and a property in Barrows Road, Sparkbrook, has been searched and a quantity of substance recovered.

"The property will be the subject of further examination."

Local newspaper reports said that the substance was blown up in a controlled explosion in nearby Small Heath Park last night.

The spokeswoman said she could not confirm this, nor whether other material seized included home-made explosives and detonators.