5 charged in alleged plot to kill a soldier

Five 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.

The charges were not immediately detailed.

Detectives investigating a suspected plot to kidnap a British Muslim soldier arrested nine men last week in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city. It has a large Muslim population.

A sixth man was released without charge, police said, and a seventh man is being held for questioning. Two others were previously released without charges.

“Five men from Birmingham have been charged overnight with offenses under the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006,” the police said in a joint statement with the Crown Prosecution Service.

The men, ranging in age from 29 to 43, were expected to appear in court today.

Police said they would hold a news conference with the prosecution service to provide details.

When the arrests were made, police said there was a plot to kidnap a soldier, behead him and post a video of the killing on the Internet.

Police said the soldier had been identified and was safe.