Thursday, December 30, 2010

Dutch extend detention of Somali terror suspect

A Dutch judge Tuesday extended the detention of one suspect in an alleged terrorism plot by Somali immigrants. Prosecutors said two other Somalis remain suspects in the case, though they were released.

They were among 12 Somalis detained in Rotterdam last week in what prosecutors said was a move to stop an imminent attack against an unidentified target. No weapons or explosives were found.

The other nine have been cleared of suspicion and freed or handed to immigration authorities.

Six Somalis came from the 30,000-strong Somali community living in the Netherlands, and two came from Denmark. The others had no established permanent residence, authorities said.

At a hearing Tuesday, a judge extended the custody of a 29-year old Somali suspect for three days, prosecutors said, but refused their request to keep another suspect in jail for further investigation. Prosecutors said a third man also remains a suspect, though they did not seek to keep him jailed.

The Dutch investigation comes at a time of heightened concern over terrorism in Europe.

On Monday, British police charged nine men for plotting attacks on the U.S. Embassy in London and the London Stock Exchange. Last week an Iraqi-born Swede blew himself up in Stockholm, killing himself and wounding two people. A plan was uncovered last autumn involving random shooting sprees in cities in Britain, France or Germany.

Parcel bombs were sent to three embassies in Rome last week, injuring two people. Italian police said Tuesday the bombs were prepared by Italian anarchists.

The Dutch police action came Friday after a tip from the national intelligence service, the AIVD, that an attack was expected at any time.

Prosecutors said the target of the attack was not known.

Source: The Associated Press

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