Five arrested over terror-related activities - including one man at Gatwick Airport

A 26-year old man was picked up at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of this morning (Source: Getty)

Catherine Neilan

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of terror-related activities - including one man who was at Gatwick Airport at the time.

West Midlands police said this morning four people - three men aged 26, 40 and 59 and a 29-year old woman - were arrested in Birmingham last night, while a fifth person - a 26-year old man - was picked up at the London-based airport in the early hours of this morning.

The charges relate to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale, who leads on counter terrorism for the West Midlands, said: “This action forms part of an extensive investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU), together with the wider counter terrorism network, MI5 and international partners including Belgian and French authorities to address any associated threat to the UK following the attacks in Europe.

“The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no risk to the public at any time and there is no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being planned.”

All five are currently being held in the West Midlands, where they are being questioned by WMCTU officers.

Police are also searching a number of properties in the city as part of the investigation and these are on-going.