Amsterdam terror arrest
September 20, 2010
A British man of Somali descent has been arrested at Amsterdam airport on suspicion of terrorism charges.
Dutch military police arrested the man after a tip from British authorities. The suspect was flying from Liverpool, in northern England, and due to continue to Uganda.
The man was arrested on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organization; however authorities did not say which one.
Dutch state broadcaster NOS news reported that the man was believed to have links to al-Shabab, an Islamist group in Somalia. The group is responsible for suicide bombing attacks on United Nations facilities and the July attacks in the Ugandan capital during the World Cup final which killed 76 people.
"We are just investigating his possible involvement in a terrorist organization. There was no explosive material found in his luggage," a Dutch police spokesman said.
The arrest marks the third terror scare in less than a year at Schiphol, Europe's fifth-largest passenger airport. The Schiphol Group, which operates the airport, has recently increased its security, adding full-body scanners among other measures.
Author: Catherine Bolsover (AP/Reuters)
Editor: Andreas Illmer