Yahoo News

Saturday November 10, 9:10 PM

Five Algerians arrested for allegedly preparing Strasbourg attack

Five Algerians thought to belong to one of Osama bin Laden's extreme Islamic groups have been arrested in Strasbourg for allegedly preparing attacks on targets in the eastern city including its famous cathedral, Europe 1 radio reported.

The five were arrested on Friday and taken to Paris, where they were being held in custody, the radio said.

The men had trained in Afghanistan before being sent to France, apparently to set up an operational cell which was to have planned a large-scale attack on Strasbourg at the end of last year, Europe 1 said.

Their planned targets included Strasbourg cathedral and the city's Christmas market, which both attract tourists from across Europe, it said.

Several of the cell leaders were arrested earlier in 2000 in Frankfurt by German police, who also seized a stock of powerful explosives and a video cassette.

The video contained footage of the area where the attack was to allegedly supposed to take place and comments such as "We must destroy the temple of the enemies of God", the radio added.

The German finds triggered an inquiry by French anti-terrorist judges, who succeeded in having the head of the commando, named as Mohamed Ben Sacria, extradited from Spain last summer.

Europe 1 said Ben Sacria had been in charge of operations across Europe for bin Laden, the Saudi-born extremist who Washington accuses of masterminding the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The inquiry resulted in the identification and arrest on Friday of the remaining members of the Strasbourg cell, it said.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2001