Jewel Uddin, 26, Omar Mohammed Khan, 27, and Mohammed Hasseen, 23, all from Sparkhill, were arrested during raids last week after police stopped a car on the M1 and found guns, knives, machetes and a home-made explosive device.

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on terror charges, where they were accused of targeting the English Defence League, who had held a rally in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, earlier that day.

The case has been sent to the Old Bailey for a hearing on 31 July.

Mr Uddin, Mr Khan and Mr Hasseen are charged under the Terrorism Act 2006, accused of preparing for an act or acts of terrorism with the intention of committing such acts.They are accused of manufacturing an improvised explosive device, as well as acquiring firearms and other weapons, and vehicles connected with their alleged plans.

The men were arrested by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, following a routine police stop of a vehicle on the M1 near Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on 30 June.

Four other men detained in connection with the investigation remain in custody.

They are a 22-year-old man from Smethwick, West Midlands; a 22-year-old man from Alum Rock, Birmingham; a 24-year-old man from Moseley, Birmingham; and a man aged 43 from Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

Police have been given until Wednesday to charge, release or apply for a warrant of further detention for three of them. The fourth man can be held until Thursday.