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Men charged with terror offences, UK 

BBC News   

Police searched a number of addresses after last week's raids Five men have been charged with terrorism offences following last week's raids in Birmingham. 

Nine men were arrested last Wednesday over what senior security sources say was an alleged plot to kidnap a member of the armed forces.  

A 38-year-old man has been released without charge, and one remains in custody. Two others were released without charge earlier this week.  The five charged men will appear before Coventry magistrates later.  

The five men, aged 29, 30, 31, 36 and 43, have been charged with offences under the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Terrorism Act 2000.  The 31-year-old and the 36-year-old face three charges each.  

The other three men face two charges each.  

West Midlands Police will reveal more details about the charges at a press conference later.  'Police state'  Police have until 0400 GMT on Saturday to interview the man who remains in custody.  

On Thursday, Abu Bakr, one of those arrested, spoke out after he and another man were released without charge a day earlier.  Mr Bakr, who works in the Maktabah bookshop, targeted in the raids, told BBC News the UK was "a police state for Muslims".  

Prime Minister Tony Blair later rejected the accusation as "categorically wrong".