Germans arrest 'al-Qaeda members'

[emad]

BBC News
Last Updated: Sunday, 23 January, 2005, 15:50 GMT


Two suspected al-Qaeda members have been arrested in Germany, prosecutors have said.

The men are accused of planning suicide attacks and of trying to buy uranium.

The 29-year-old Iraqi and a 31-year-old Palestinian were detained during police raids in Mainz and Bonn, Federal Prosecutor Kay Nehm said.

The BBC's Ray Furlong in Berlin says the arrests come at a sensitive time, as US President George W Bush is due to visit Mainz next month.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4200009.stm

[Damien]

1. more info?

Anyone else know anything about this?

Personally, I'm always suspicious when we arrest "suspected terrorists."

Not to say we don't need to find those who would commit terrorist acts, but too many people start getting rounded up...

[MHalblaub]

11. On Monday they have to face a judge.

The judge has to decide whether there is enough proof or not.

Mounir al-Motassadeq was set free after appeal because the US failed to provide evidences of other suspects detained in the US (Said Bahaji & Mohammed Haydar Zammar).

[Turley]

12. Apparently under surveillence for quite some time

My guess is the evidence is extensive. My guess is they're headed for the slam.

[gottaB]

14. 2 weeks ago German police rounded up 22 suspected Islamic militants

One group of suspects was said to have had ties to Ansar al-Islam, and a plot against Allawi was mentioned in some reports. There was also an arrest of 3 suspects on Dec. 3rd for allegedly plotting to assassinate Allawi. I think it's part of an ongoing investigation. Here is one report in English:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/01/12/international1119EST0523.DTL&type=printable

And about the December arrests:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A33549-2004Dec3?language=printer

[Straight Shooter]

2. "... the arrests come at a sensitive time ..."

So what if bush is coming to visit. They'll have an army the size of a small country attending the most paranoid man in the world.

[frictionlessO]

3. Im not getting my panties all bunched up just yet...

This sounds a bit to full of filler to be sure.
Iraqi and Palestinian? hmmmm Nukular materials?

Im waiting for more detail.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. The Germans weren't using those old-fashioned, Clinton-era,

ineffective police investigation techniques, were they? Hopefully, carpet bombing by a B52 was involved somehow so that the arrests will be legitimate.

[Mr Rabble]

6. Al Qaeda huh...

Right. Al Qaeda. Not just pissed of guys, but Al Qaeda.

[emad]

7. Hello emperor72. First post? Hang tight in there!

..

[ScrewyRabbit]

9. LOL

That is the best response!

Not just the B52 air strikes -- Germany should pre-emptively invade the Czech Republic too!

[3days]

5. It is interesting that we are now seeing Iraqi's as supposed terrorists

Thanks George. How many Iraqi's were terrorists prior to our invasion?

[UL_Approved]

8. Sound familiar?

Remeber the Boston scare?

Terror Tip Probed As Possible Revenge (the Boston tip)

I wonder why they happened to be Palestinians. That is not where al-Qaeda operates... :eyes:

On edit: spelling

[Turley]

10. A summary of German articles on the topic.

German press says the Iraqi is an important logistical operator for Al-Q. Said to have trained extensively in A-stan and has met OBL. Also has had extensive contacts with Ramzi Binalshibh. Investigators say he had tried to purchase 48 grams of highly refined Uranium from a group in Luxembourg.

The Libya born Palestinian had been recruited by the Iraqi for a suicide-bomber mission somewhere outside of Germany (possibly Iraq). Before the mission he was to have faked his death on an Egyptian vacation. The Iraqi had purchased five insurance policies on the Palestinian worth some €832,000. The money was to have gone to further finance jihad.

This is my short summary of five articles in German. Sounds like the Germans have a lot of detail on these dudes. My guess is, they go away for a long time. And Jeez, I was in Mainz this morning. Glad to have missed that particular bit of excitement.

[gandalf]

13. "Lot of detail"? Maybe. But evidence?

I suspect Kay Nehm of being a strong supporter of the "War on Terror". He was not able to prove his accusations in the case of Motassadeq and the other guy acquitted in Hamburg (the name of whom I cannot remember at the moment...)