Four men from London have been charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism, Scotland Yard has said.

Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21, have all been charged with plotting a terrorist attack in London.

The offences allegedly took place between 8 July and 7 October of this year.

The charges, provided by the Metropolitan Police, allege that the four men conducted "hostile reconnaissance" of Shepherd's Bush police station and White City Territorial Army Barracks and took an oath of allegiance to extremist group Islamic State.

A fifth man, Nathan Cuffy, 25, has been charged with firearms offences.

All the men have London addresses and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

The charges allege the four set up methods of secret communications and entered into covert discussions.

Police also allege the men located a firearm, moped and an extract of the "fatwa of Al Adnani" as part of the plot.

They allegedly viewed and kept an image sent via Instagram of two Metropolitan Police officers and two Metropolitan Police community support officers.

It is also alleged the men possessed jihadist material, including articles with images of the beheading of Steven Sotloff.