Four young Londoners plotted to murder a police officer or soldier in one or more Islamic State-inspired terrorist attacks across their city, the Old Bailey heard.

Tarik Hassane, 22, Suhaib Majeed, 21, Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Nathan Cuffy, 26 from London, were arrested by counter-terrorism police in raids in late September and early October 2014.

The men, who are all British citizens, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and preparation of terrorist acts. They have denied the charges.

The prosecution claim the men plotted to kill a police officer, a soldier or possibly even a civilian, in one or more terrorist attacks.

They are alleged to have been inspired by an Islamic State (IS) fatwa posted on YouTube by an IS spokesman to kill disbelievers in the West.

"You must strike the soldiers, patrons, and troops of the tawaghit [tyrants]. Strike their police, security, and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents".

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC told jurors that at the time of their arrests the plot had got to the stage where a gun and ammunition had been acquired.

Medical student Mr Hassane, who is said to have had pledged his allegiance to IS, is alleged to have carried out "hostile reconnaissance" of Shepherd's Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment TA barracks, in the days before his arrest in October.

Hassane and Majeed also discussed the purchase of a moped that could not be traced back to them, as well as a garage to store the moped with the gun.

More: Police officer or soldier 'target in IS-inspired London terror plot'