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Nine men arrested in police raids a week ago have been charged with conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain and with plotting terrorism offences, police said on Monday.

The nine were among 12 men arrested on Dec 20 in what police said at the time were counter-terrorism raids essential to protect the public from the threat of attack.

Three of the 12 arrested were released without charge, a statement issued by West Midlands Police said.

The remainder will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court later on Monday, the statement 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," Sue Hemming, head of the crown prosecution service counter terrorism division, said in a public statement.

"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," Hemming added.

Three of the men, aged 24, 26 and 28, are from the Welsh capital Cardiff, two aged 20 and 28 are from London, and four aged 19, 25, 26 and 26 are from Stoke-on-Trent in central England, the police statement said.

At the time of the arrests, the BBC reported that most of the suspects were British but they also included a small number of Bangladeshis.

The police statement said that between Oct 1 and Nov 20 the nine suspects had conspired to cause "explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property".

Questions:

1. What date were the men arrested?

2. Which magistrates court will they appear at?

3. What is the name of the Welsh capital?

Answers:

1. Dec 20

2. City of Westminster

3. Cardiff

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（中国日报网英语点津 Julie 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.