国际英语新闻：Nine charged with conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain

LONDON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nine people have been charged with conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain and with terrorism offences, the West Midlands police announced on Monday.

Such move followed a series of dawn arrests, coordinated by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit on Dec. 20.

The nine men are aged from 19 to 28, and three are from Cardiff, two from London, and four from Stoke-on-Trent, said the police in a statement.

The men will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday morning.

Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Counter Terrorism Division, said: "I have today advised the police that nine men should be charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and with engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism with the intention of either committing acts of terrorism, or assisting another to commit such acts."

"Lawyers from the CPS Counter Terrorism Division have been working with the police on this case from an early stage and were on hand to give advice while the men were interviewed," Hemming said.

"I have reviewed the evidence provided to me by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit and I am satisfied there is sufficient for a realistic prospect of conviction, and it is in the public interest that these men should be charged with these offences," he said.

In addition, Hemming said that "I must remind the media to take care in reporting events surrounding this case. These men have been charged with serious offences and are entitled to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice any trial."

Before the Christmas day, British police arrested 12 men in a large-scale national counter terrorism operation.

The operation was led by senior national coordinator for terrorist investigations and coordinated by West Midlands counter terrorism unit.

Three other men arrested - two from Cardiff and one from London - have been released without charge.