LONDON, April 10: Five Britons of Pakistani origin seized in dawn raids in the London area last week in connection with the discovery of half a ton of potential explosive appeared in court on Saturday on charges of attempting to cause an explosion.

The men, aged between 19 and 32, spoke only to confirm their names at the hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in southeast London. No application for bail was made and the men were remanded in custody.

The men were among nine held in connection with the discovery of 600 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, an agricultural fertilizer that can be converted to use as an explosive.

They are alleged to have "unlawfully and maliciously" participated in a conspiracy between Oct 1, 2003, and March 31, 2004, along with a 17-year-old, who has already been charged and cannot be named for legal reasons, and a Canadian, Mohammed Khawaja who has appeared in court in Ottawa on terrorism charges.

French national Jacques Karim Abi-Ayad, 39, appeared at the same court charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with possessing documents "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit" terrorist acts.

Abi-Ayad spoke only to confirm his name and address. He was remanded to appear on April 16. No application for bail was made.-dpa