Five men held under Terrorism Act

The arrests followed a lengthy counter-terrorism investigation

Five men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in a series of dawn raids across the Birmingham area.

The men, aged between 29 and 36, are being held on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

The arrests were made at five separate addresses and searches were also being carried out at two business properties.

West Midlands Police said the action followed a complex investigation by its counter-terrorism unit.

Families supported

Throughout the day, officers have been searching the properties where the raids took place, located in Sparkhill, Ward End, Hodge Hill, Bordesley Green and Aston.

Another residential address in Stechford and business premises in central Birmingham and Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, were also being searched.

All his life, I have had no trouble from him Sobat Khan, father

Meanwhile, specially trained officers have been supporting the men's families and have been speaking to community leaders.

Sobat Khan, the father of one of the men arrested, has protested his son's innocence.

"My son is not bad, he is a good boy," he said of 29-year-old Mohammed Shabir, who was arrested at their home in Benton Road in Sparkhill.

"All his life, I have had no trouble from him. He just goes to work, that is all."

In a statement, police said they were not seeking anyone else at this stage and stressed the arrests were not related to any immediate plot or threat to the public.