Dutch police have arrested nine men in Eindhoven who they say were preparing to take part in a terrorist attack.

The investigation began in the summer following a tip-off from national security agency AIVD.

The men are aged 18 to 31 and all have Dutch nationality. All but one were born in the Netherlands. The ninth man was born in Afghanistan, the public prosecution department said.

The department says the men were ‘sympathetic’ to the jihadist thoughts of ISIS.

Several homes were searched in the raids but police did not find any weapons or explosives.

The last high profile arrest of a group of people suspected of terrorism offences took place in September 2018 in Arnhem and on a holiday park in Weert, after the gang was infiltrated by police officers posing as arms traders.

Those raids led last October to six men being jailed for periods of 10 to 17 years for making plans to launch a jihadist attack on a large event in the Netherlands and for setting up a terrorist organisation.

Police have not given any details about potential targets for the Eindhoven group.