Dutch police investigate US 'terror' plot
Updated on 31 August 2010
Dutch prosecutors say two men arrested at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport because of "suspicious items" found in their luggage are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit acts of terror.
The Yemeni citizens had arrived in Amsterdam on United Flight 908 from Chicago O'Hare Airport on Sunday night. They were on route to Sanaa.
Authorities at The Netherlands were alerted by officials from the Department of Homeland Security after airport security in the United States found an empty shampoo bottle attatched to watches, and mobile phones connected to a bottle of stomach medicine in one of the men's baggage.
A box cutter and three large knives were also discovered in checked luggage associated with the passengers in Chicago. Officials had feared it might have been a dry run for a terrorist plot.
An US law enforcement official identified the men as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al-Soofi and Hezam al-Murisi.
Al-Soofi had begun his flight at Birmingham, Alabama, while al-Murisi had started his journey from Memphis.
They had originally been due to fly on to Washington, but had changed their flight plan in Chicago. However it emerged al-Soofi's luggage had been transported on a flight to Washington without him, in an apparent violation of safety rules.
The Dutch authorities said in a statement a decision would be taken "in a few days" whether the men would be charged.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN the men were involved in a series of "suspicious events" and that authorities would conduct a "vigorous investigation".
"They were not on any of the terror watch lists ... They went through some extra screening. Their bags were pulled off of a flight because they were not on that flight," Gibbs said.
"Extra precautions were taken ... and now obviously the next step is getting some answers."
However two US government officials said on Tuesday that their early investigation suggested there was no evidence of any terrorism link, and no indication the men knew each other.
It is not illegal to carry knives or taped cellphones or watches in checked baggage.
