Three held over German terror plots

BERLIN – German authorities said yesterday they had arrested three suspected Islamic terrorists for plotting attacks on Frankfurt International Airport, one of Europe’s busiest, along with Ramstein Air Base, a key US and Nato military hub.

Prosecutors said they had arrested three suspected members of ‘an Islamic-motivated terrorist organisation’, but gave no further details. German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung told ARD broadcaster the three men were suspected of targeting the airport and base.”There was an imminent threat,” Jung said, but declined to elaborate.The Suedwestrundfunk public broadcaster said two of the suspects had German citizenship while the third was Pakistani.Prosecutors in Karlsruhe said the arrests took place on Tuesday afternoon, and that police had also carried out searches across the country.The suspects were to be brought before a judge later yesterday.German and US officials have warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack, and security measures have been increased.Navy Captain Jeff Gradeck, spokesman for the US military’s European Command in Stuttgart said German authorities had contacted them concerning the alleged plot, but had no further information.”We extend our gratitude to Germany for their efforts in protecting us,” Gradeck said.Wolfgang Bosbach, a top legislator for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, said that ‘the suspects had been under observation by security officials for a long time’.”Consequently, we know without any doubt that they were planning attacks that would have had considerable consequences,” he told N24 television, adding that the three had acquired chemicals for the plot.Bosbach said an attack could have occurred ‘in a few days’ and pointed out the anniversary of the September 11 2001, terror attacks next week, as well as deliberations by the German parliament in the next few weeks over whether to extend its troop mandates in Afghanistan.”We are in a highly sensitive period,” he said.Germany, which did not send troops to Iraq, has been spared terrorist attacks like the train and subway bombings in Madrid and London – although its involvement in the attempt to stabilise Afghanistan has led to fears it might be targeted.In July 2006 two gas bombs were placed on commuter trains but did not explode.Officials said that attack was motivated by anger over cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.Several suspects are on trial in Lebanon, and a Lebanese man has been charged in Germany.Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview released Wednesday that German troops would remain in Afghanistan for several more years, despite recent setbacks in the region.Nampa-APGerman Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung told ARD broadcaster the three men were suspected of targeting the airport and base.”There was an imminent threat,” Jung said, but declined to elaborate.The Suedwestrundfunk public broadcaster said two of the suspects had German citizenship while the third was Pakistani.Prosecutors in Karlsruhe said the arrests took place on Tuesday afternoon, and that police had also carried out searches across the country.The suspects were to be brought before a judge later yesterday.German and US officials have warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack, and security measures have been increased.Navy Captain Jeff Gradeck, spokesman for the US military’s European Command in Stuttgart said German authorities had contacted them concerning the alleged plot, but had no further information.”We extend our gratitude to Germany for their efforts in protecting us,” Gradeck said.Wolfgang Bosbach, a top legislator for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, said that ‘the suspects had been under observation by security officials for a long time’.”Consequently, we know without any doubt that they were planning attacks that would have had considerable consequences,” he told N24 television, adding that the three had acquired chemicals for the plot.Bosbach said an attack could have occurred ‘in a few days’ and pointed out the anniversary of the September 11 2001, terror attacks next week, as well as deliberations by the German parliament in the next few weeks over whether to extend its troop mandates in Afghanistan.”We are in a highly sensitive period,” he said.Germany, which did not send troops to Iraq, has been spared terrorist attacks like the train and subway bombings in Madrid and London – although its involvement in the attempt to stabilise Afghanistan has led to fears it might be targeted.In July 2006 two gas bombs were placed on commuter trains but did not explode.Officials said that attack was motivated by anger over cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.Several suspects are on trial in Lebanon, and a Lebanese man has been charged in Germany.Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview released Wednesday that German troops would remain in Afghanistan for several more years, despite recent setbacks in the region.Nampa-AP