British police arrest 8 people on terrorist charges in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) _ Eight terror suspects accused of planning a kidnapping were arrested in pre-dawn raids Wednesday, police said. <br/><br/>Police would not comment on Sky News TV reports that

Wednesday, January 31st 2007, 5:45 am

By: News On 6

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) _ Eight terror suspects accused of planning a kidnapping were arrested in pre-dawn raids Wednesday, police said.

Police would not comment on Sky News TV reports that part of the plan was to behead a hostage and post the act on the Internet, and neither the Home Office nor West Midlands police could not confirm details of the alleged plot.

Officers raided several homes beginning at 4 a.m. in a predominantly Pakistani neighborhood in the city in central England.

Counterterrorism officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said police believed a plot was being formed to kidnap an unnamed target. It was unclear whether the target was high-profile.

Government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the operation, said the allegation marked a new chapter in terrorist activity in Britain.

The arrest operation was led by the Midlands Counterterrorism unit, supported by West Midlands Police and London's Metropolitan Police.

Last week, police arrested five people in terrorism investigations in the English cities of Manchester and Halifax.

Rizwan Ditta, 29, and Mohammed Dilal, 26, of Halifax were later charged with possession of information of use to terrorists.

Three men arrested by Greater Manchester Police remain in custody but have not been charged.