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KLM plane in German terror alert Terror suspects held on KLM plane
(about 3 hours later)
German commandos have arrested two men on an aeroplane preparing to take off from Cologne airport. Police in Germany have arrested two terrorism suspects on a plane preparing to take off from Cologne-Bonn airport.
A Somali, 23, and a Somali-born German, 24, were suspected of planning attacks and were detained after several months of surveillance, police said. The two men, both in their early 20s and of Somali origin, were under surveillance for months, police say.
The men had intended to carry out "holy war" and suicide notes had been found at their flat, a police official told German television. They were said to be "possibly planning attacks" and had left suicide notes at their flats expressing their wish to die in a "holy war".
The KLM passenger carrier KL1804 had been bound for Amsterdam. The KLM airliner, which was bound for Amsterdam, was eventually allowed to take off after a luggage search.
The plane was boarded by police at 0655 (0455 GMT), police spokesman Frank Scheulen told AFP news agency. Police boarded flight KL1804 at 0655 (0455 GMT), police spokesman Frank Scheulen said.
Commandos boarded the plane as it was on the "point of departure" and removed the two suspects, a KLM spokeswoman told Dutch television. "The police did not storm the plane - it was done by ordinary police, special forces were not used," he added, contradicting earlier reports by KLM staff that commandos had made the arrests.
The remaining passengers were then ordered off the aircraft for a baggage inspection, she added. He said the suspects - a 23-year-old Somali and a 24-year-old Somali-born German citizen - were "under suspicion of participating in a jihad [holy war] action and of possibly planning attacks".
The remaining passengers were ordered off the aircraft for a baggage inspection.
The plane was cleared for departure just over an hour later and has since landed in Amsterdam.The plane was cleared for departure just over an hour later and has since landed in Amsterdam.
Germany's federal crime office said on Thursday it was hunting for two Islamic militants believed to be on their way to Germany.
The arrests in Cologne are thought to be unconnected with that terror alert.