Tuesday, December 17, 2002

PARIS — Three alleged Islamic radicals arrested by French counterintelligence agents appear to have been preparing a chemical attack, news reports said Tuesday.

The three Algerians, who were taken into custody Monday in suburban Paris, had possession of unidentified chemicals, plus $5,000 in cash, a computer and Islamic propaganda documents, Le Figaro and Le Parisien newspapers reported.

The suspects, who the reports said are believed to have spent time in Afghanistan and Chechnya, were taken into custody on orders from top anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere.

The exact nature of the substances was not immediately clear, and they were taken to a police laboratory for further study, the reports said. It was also unclear where and when the chemicals were to have been used.

A spokeswoman for France's judicial police declined comment to The Associated Press.

French police teams carefully took the chemicals from a public housing project in suburban La Courneuve after the arrests, reported the daily Le Parisien, quoting unidentified police officials and agents from the counterintelligence service DST.

The daily Le Figaro reported the suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of "criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise" in connection with an investigation begun Nov. 13 into the activities of Chechen groups.

Judge Bruguiere is investigating several plots and attacks both in France and abroad. He has broad powers to pursue suspects, search their homes, tap their phones, arrest, interrogate and charge them.

There have been mounting concerns in Europe in recent weeks that a terror attack may be imminent. Bruguiere has stepped up arrests in France. More than 20 suspects were taken into custody in five operations since Nov 24, though most have been released.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002