UK police
Three men have appeared in court over a beheading plot in the UK Reuters

Three men have appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in connection with an alleged plot to behead a person in Britain.

Nadir Ali Sayed, 21, from Hounslow, Yousaf Shah Syed, 19, from High Wycombe, and Haseeb Hamayoon, 27, from Hayes, have been charged with jointly engaging in conduct in preparation for giving effect to their intention, contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

They were arrested and detained on 6 November, three days before Remembrance Sunday.

The suspects have been remanded in custody after their brief appearance at court on 20 November where the alleged plot was outlined.

Two of the suspects appeared to laugh at one point during the hearing, the Press Association reported.

The case has now been referred to the Old Bailey.

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said: "Not a lot of details were made clear within the charges but it's understood to be a plot to behead somebody in the UK."

A fourth man was arrested in Uxbridge but was released on 15 November with no further action.