The BBC understands one of the arrested men is 57-year-old nurse Dale Bolinger

Two men from Kent have been arrested in connection with the case of a former New York policeman accused of plotting to eat women in the US.

Gilberto Valle, 28, is charged with conspiracy to kidnap, and using police databases to make a list of targets. He denies the allegations.

A Kent Police spokesman said two men aged 57 and 30, from the Canterbury area, were arrested on 21 February.

Dale Bolinger, a nurse, is understood to be one of the men arrested in Kent.

Gilberto Valle is charged with conspiracy to kidnap

In a statement, Kent Police said the men had been arrested on 21 February on suspicion of conspiracy offences, grooming and possession of child abuse images.

“Kent Police has been in contact with US law enforcement agencies in relation to this investigation,” the spokesman said.

“We can confirm it is in relation to the Gilberto Valle case in the US.”

The force spokesman said the two men had been released on police bail while inquiries continued.