Five men have been charged here in connection with an alleged Islamic State plot to carry out a drive-by gun attack against Scotland Yard officers. Four of the group are said to have sworn allegiance to IS and to have planned to use a moped to carry out the shooting on the streets of London.

They are accused of using Google Street View to conduct "hostile reconnaissance" of Shepherds Bush police station and White City Territorial Army barracks, both in west London, 'The Times' reported.

It is also alleged that the group shared Instagram photographs of two Metropolitan Police officers and two police community support officers.

Mark Dawson, for the prosecution, told Westminster magistrates' court that the alleged plot was "to shoot, to kill, police officers or soldiers on the streets of London".

Police across the country were warned last week to increase their personal vigilance because of the heightened threat of terrorism.