Terror arrests
August 31, 2010
Two men on a flight from the United States to the Netherlands were arrested at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.
US law enforcement officials said Monday they found a cell phone taped to a medicine bottle as well as a knife and box cutter in checked luggage connected to the men.
Dutch authorities have questioned the two, who were identified as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi and Hezam al Murisi. According to US media the two are both of Yemeni descent.
A dry run?
The US Department of Homeland Security told the Agence France-Presse news agency that it had informed Dutch authorities about luggage "associated" with the two men including "suspicious items."
The department declined to say why the two men had been allowed to board the flight despite the discovery of the suspect objects in their luggage.
American broadcaster NBC reported that official concern in the US about the arrests was low, but authorities wanted to make sure the incident was not a dry run in possible preparation for a future attack.
Author: Andreas Illmer (AFP/AP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler