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Denmark arrests 'bomb' suspects | Denmark arrests 'bomb' suspects |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Danish police have arrested eight people with alleged links to al-Qaeda on suspicion of planning a bomb attack. | |
The eight suspects arrested late on Monday in Copenhagen form part of a terror cell with links to a senior al-Qaeda figure, police said. | |
The suspects, aged between 19 and 29, were of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali and Turkish origin, police said. | |
Denmark's contribution to the US-led military campaign in Iraq has prompted fears that terrorists may target it. | |
The country also drew anger from Muslims worldwide after a Danish newspaper last year printed cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. | |
'Unstable explosive' | |
Eleven addresses were raided in Copenhagen during the overnight police operation, police said. | |
Buildings in the city's southern suburb of Ishoej and its Noerrebro district - both with large immigrant populations - were among those cordoned off by police. | |
The suspects held on Monday had been under surveillance for some time, police said. Six of them are reportedly Danish citizens. | |
"With the arrests, we have prevented a terror attack," Jakob Scharf, an official from the Danish police intelligence agency said. | |
"They also have been producing an unstable explosive in a densely populated area," Mr Scharf said. | |
He gave no details of what might have been the intended target of the alleged bombers. | |
Danish security services have conducted two major raids on suspected terrorists since 2005. | Danish security services have conducted two major raids on suspected terrorists since 2005. |
In February, a court sentenced a Danish citizen of Palestinian origin for involvement in a plan to blow up a European target. | In February, a court sentenced a Danish citizen of Palestinian origin for involvement in a plan to blow up a European target. |
Another three defendants in the trial were acquitted. One of them is awaiting a retrial. | |
And four men arrested last year in the city of Odense are due to go on trial on Wednesday on suspicion of planning terror attacks. | And four men arrested last year in the city of Odense are due to go on trial on Wednesday on suspicion of planning terror attacks. |