Police in central England have arrested five men on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.

Detectives from the West Midlands police department's counter-terrorism unit arrested the men today at locations in Birmingham and nearby Stoke-on-Trent. Officers are searching several locations in both cities as part of the investigation. 

A police statement says a military bomb disposal team has been deployed to the Lee Bank district in central Birmingham as a "precautionary measure."

Men aged 32 and 37 were arrested in Stoke, while the three arrested in Birmingham were aged 18, 24 and 28.