Two men have appeared in court charged with terror offences after they were arrested in an operation near the Tower of London.

The men, who appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, were identified only as AB and as CD.

They will next appear in custody at the Old Bailey on November 18.

Both men were charged under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 - namely possession of a computer file including information on bomb making.

The first man - AB - was also charged with preparing a terrorist act contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006.

The second man - CD - was also charged with possession of a false passport under the Identity Document Act 2010.

Prosecutor Michael Atkinson made an application for the names of the defendants not to be released to protect the security of an ongoing investigation.

District judge Michael Snow allowed the application, saying it was necessary “to prevent the administration of justice from being damaged”.

The pair were arrested after police marksmen used special ammunition to “hard stop” a car in Mansell Street on October 13.

Two other men arrested as part of the same operation were freed without charge on Saturday.