South African twins planned to blow up US embassy

South Africa: Four South Africans including twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie were arrested on Sunday and charged in court for planning attacks on the US Embassy in Pretoria as well as on Jewish owned buildings, police say.

Spokesman for the elite police unit Hawks, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, on Monday said the four men arrested in Johannesburg face charges ranging from conspiracy to firearms offences.

Mulaudzi identified the other two arrested who are siblings as Fatima and Ibrahim Mohammed Patel.

The four, will be detained in custody until July 19, when their case will be heard, Mulaudzi said.

According to the charge sheet as quoted by a media sources, the twins had been attempting to fly to Syria.

Security officials say there are no known militant groups operating in South Africa.

Mulaudzi said; 

"The indictment does talk to issues of terror plots that they were planning against the US Embassy as well as Jewish Buildings in the country," he said of the twins.

"The twins have been charged with conspiracy," Mulaudzi added. "The Patel siblings have been charged with the violation of the Firearms Control Act for now."