National Action neo-nazis arrested by anti-terror police are members of British Army

"We can confirm that a number of serving members of the Army have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for being associated with a proscribed far right group," a spokesperson said. "These arrests are the consequence of a Home Office Police Force led operation supported by the Army.

"This is now the subject of a civilian police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

West Midlands Police said the suspects are a 22-year-old man from Birmingham, a 32-year-old man from Powys, a 24-year-old man from Ipswich and a 24-year-old man from Northampton.

A spokesperson added: "They have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000; namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, National Action.

"All four men are being held at a police station in the West Midlands.

"The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led - there was no threat to the public's safety."

Section 41 gives police the power to arrest anyone "reasonably suspected to be a terrorist" without warrant.

West Midlands Police would not give further details of the men's activities but the "commission, preparation and instigation" of terrorism encompasses a wide spectrum of acts include directly planning an attack, joining a prohibited group or giving effect to that intention.