Five Algerians Held In Pope Plot Terror Swoop

[JudyInTheHeartland]

Source: Sky News

Jon di Paolo, Sky News Online

Five Algerian men have been arrested over a potential threat to the Pope, Sky News sources say.

Armed counter-terror officers swooped on a business premises in central London in the early hours of the morning.

The suspects, who are aged 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50, are being held and questioned under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The Pope's itinerary continues today.

"His security arrangements have been reviewed and nothing has changed in terms of the level of protection around him.

Read more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Pope-Arrests-Five-Held-Over-Potential-Threat-To-Benedict-XVI/Article/201009315732353?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_0&lid=ARTICLE_15732353_Pope_Arrests%3A_Five_Held_Over_Potential_Threat_To_Benedict_XVI_

[Turborama]

1. Pope's UK visit: Six held by counter-terror police hours before historic address

Source: The Guardian

Police arrested six men today over an alleged terrorist plot against the pope hours before he delivered one of his trip's key addresses to four former prime ministers and hundreds of parliamentarians and religious leaders in Westminster Hall.

Five London street cleaners were arrested at gunpoint by counter-terrorist officers in a dawn raid at the depot where they worked in Westminster, London. The sixth man was arrested this afternoon in north London.

Searches by officers at up to 10 addresses were continuing tonight, but no equipment linked to bomb-making or anything that could obviously be used to stage a terrorist attack was recovered.

Some of the men arrested are believed to be of Algerian heritage. They were being held and questioned by detectives who are also trying to establish their identities.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/17/pope-visit-terror-police-arrests-street-cleaners

[Bragi]

2. "believed to be of Algerian heritage"

Gee, the article is silent on it, but I wonder if these men might have been radicals from a particular religious group of some sort? Hmmm...

[Hatalles]

4. They might...

... but speculating on the religion they claim to be a part of would not only be irrelevant, it would also be unnecessary.

BTW, these men were freed without charge today. Gee.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11360568

[Turborama]

5. Because they are Ingored, I'm not sure why that poster was replying to my article instead of the OP

Their post probably proves yet again I was right to ignore them.

And you're right, all 6 have been released without charge.

Six men freed day after they were arrested during pope visit

By The CNN Wire Staff
September 19, 2010 -- Updated 0252 GMT

London, England (CNN) -- Six men arrested Friday morning in London on suspicion of terrorism related to Pope Benedict XVI's visit were freed overnight without charge, an official said.

Scotland Yard spokesman Alan Crockford told CNN that the men were released around midnight (7 p.m. ET Saturday).

Their release came after police searched eight homes in north and east London and two businesses in central London, including a street-cleaning operation, London's Metropolitan Police said, according to the Press Association.

The searches found no weapons or suspicious materials, it said.

More: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/09/18/uk.pope.threat/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

[Bragi]

6. Apologies. A poorly thought out post from me /nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. "Pope Plot Terror Swoop". Writing headlines is an art form. n/t