NEW YORK: Six men, alleged “Islamic radicals,” have been arrested on charges of planning to kill soldiers at a US military base in New Jersey, authorities and US media said on Tuesday.

The six suspects, some of whom were from former Yugoslavia, were arrested overnight as they tried to buy weapons. They are due to appear Tuesday in a New Jersey court, media reported.

The men are accused of attending firearms training sessions in Pennsylvania, conducting surveillance of military bases, collecting and trying to acquire AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons, and reviewing “terrorist training videos,” according to a charge sheet from federal prosecutors.

The FBI began its investigation in January 2006 after a shop alerted authorities about a “disturbing” video that a customer asked to be transferred to a DVD.

According to prosecutors, the footage showed a group of young men firing guns as they shouted “Allah Akbar.” Two secret FBI informers managed to infiltrate the group, and learned of plans to launch an attack on Fort Dix in New Jersey.—AFP