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Seven held in Danish terror raids | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Danish police have arrested seven suspected terrorists, the country's security intelligence service says. | |
The suspects, believed to be all men aged between 18 and 33, were picked up during overnight raids in Odense, Denmark's third largest city. | |
The country's Justice Minister, Lene Espersen, said it was likely they were planning an attack in Denmark. | The country's Justice Minister, Lene Espersen, said it was likely they were planning an attack in Denmark. |
The men had been under surveillance for months and were detained on suspicion of planning terror acts. | The men had been under surveillance for months and were detained on suspicion of planning terror acts. |
Two others who were arrested at the same time have been released. | |
All seven are due in court later and are being held under anti-terror laws introduced after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. | |
Ms Espersen said: "The clues police found indicate that they were very likely planning an attack somewhere in Denmark. | Ms Espersen said: "The clues police found indicate that they were very likely planning an attack somewhere in Denmark. |
"It was the most serious matter I have had in my time as justice minister. Police went in and stopped the group as it was preparing an attack." | "It was the most serious matter I have had in my time as justice minister. Police went in and stopped the group as it was preparing an attack." |
'No unnecessary risk' | 'No unnecessary risk' |
Lars Findsen, head of the Danish Security Intelligence Service (Pet), said in a statement that the arrests happened in the city's suburb of Vollsmose. | Lars Findsen, head of the Danish Security Intelligence Service (Pet), said in a statement that the arrests happened in the city's suburb of Vollsmose. |
He said the suspects "had acquired material... to build explosives in connection with the preparation of a terror act". | He said the suspects "had acquired material... to build explosives in connection with the preparation of a terror act". |
Mr Findsen did not reveal any planned target of the attack and said it was hard to evaluate how far the suspects had got in their preparations. | Mr Findsen did not reveal any planned target of the attack and said it was hard to evaluate how far the suspects had got in their preparations. |
"With the general terror situation, the Danish Security Intelligence Service didn't want to run any unnecessary risk." | "With the general terror situation, the Danish Security Intelligence Service didn't want to run any unnecessary risk." |
The arrests would not prompt Denmark to raise its terror alert, Mr Findsen added. | The arrests would not prompt Denmark to raise its terror alert, Mr Findsen added. |