Four charged with terrorism offences

Four men were charged with terrorism offences following counter-terror raids, police said last night.

Officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit detained the men earlier this week in what was described as a "low key operation".

Israr Malik, 21, of Bowdon Avenue, Fallowfield, is charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism, namely violent jihad, between June 2008 and November 17 this year.

Matthew Newton, 27, of Rydal Walk, Stalybridge, Munir Farooqi, 52, of Victoria Terrace, Longsight, and Haris Farooqi, 26, of Stockport Road, Levenshulme, are accused of intending to assist others to commit acts of terrorism, namely violent jihad, between October 2008 and November 17 this year.

All four are due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London tomorrow.

A 62-year-old man from Deane, Bolton, understood to be a Muslim cleric, was released without charge.