Four men have been arrested in connection with an investigation into an alleged suicide bomb plot in Birmingham, England

The four men – three aged 19 and one aged 24 - are accused of raising funds for terrorism and traveling to Pakistan for terrorist training. The men were arrested in connection with a major counter-terrorism investigation known as Operation Pitsford. The men were detained by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit at their home addresses in the Sparkhill area of the city. All four are being held under the Terrorism Act 2000 and detectives have an initial 48 hours to question the suspects before charging, releasing or applying for a warrant of further detention. Eight people arrested over the past few months have already been charged. Three are said to have been plotting a suicide bombing campaign of mass murder on the streets of Britain. Two of those are said to have traveled to Pakistan where they received terrorist training and made suicide videos before returning to build a bomb. The men were under surveillance as part of an intelligence led operation by MI5 and the police as they discussed their plans, which were picked up by listening devices. Three other men helped raise £12,000 by collecting for charities which was said to be used for the purposes of planning their attacks. A seventh man and a woman have been accused of failing to inform police. Those previously charged include Rahin Ahmed, 25, from Moseley, Birmingham, who helped others travel to Pakistan for training in bomb making, using weapons and mixing poisons. He is also said to have collected money and invested and managed the money which was to be used for terrorist acts. Irfan Nasser, 30, from Sparkhill, Birmingham and Irfan Khalid, 26, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, are accused of plotting their attacks between Christmas Day 2010 and their arrest in September 2011. They traveled to Pakistan for training in terrorism including bomb making, weapons and poison making. While there they are said to have made a martyrdom film and later began planning a suicide bombing campaign or event. On their return they provided information to others about training in Pakistan and were advising and counseling about explosives and detonators. The men went on to purchase components and chemicals for a home made explosive device and constructed a home made explosive device for terrorist acts. They tried to recruit others for terrorist training and for terrorist acts and stated their intention to be suicide bombers, prosecutors said. Ashik Ali, 26, from Balsall Heath, Birmingham, did not travel to Pakistan, but provided premises for planning the attacks and making explosives. He learned about explosives and detonators and was involved in the purchase of components and chemicals and in making a home made explosive device. He too tried to recruit others for training and terrorism and stated that he wanted to be a suicide bomber.