Arrests over terror attack threat

The number of people arrested in Denmark and Germany over an alleged terror attack plot has risen to 14, with six more people placed in pre-trial detention.

All but one of the suspects were arrested in Denmark.

Three of them were Syrian nationals, aged 33, 36 and 40, who were arrested last weekend.

Authorities in Germany and Denmark initially on Thursday announced eight arrests, and yesterday another six people were held, police said.

All the detention hearings in Denmark were held behind socalled double closed doors, meaning the case is shrouded in secrecy and few details are made public.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), said the people arrested in Denmark were suspected “of having acquired ingredients and components for the manufacture of explosives, as well as weapons, or having participated in this”.

Earlier, German authorities had announced the first three arrests – two in Denmark and one in Germany.

They said the suspects were alleged to have purchased several kilograms of chemicals in January that could be used to manufacture explosives.

A search of a residence in the city of Dessau-rosslau, near Berlin, turned up 10 kilograms of black powder, and fuses, the German prosecutor said.

More chemicals were seized in Denmark.

PET said those arrested in Denmark are suspected of “having planned one or more terrorist attacks or participated in attempted terrorism”.

It did not say where such an attack would take place.

The first day of the latest round of strikes by British Gas engineers has been suspended as efforts continue to resolve the long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

Thousands of members of the GMB union were due to take their 17 th day of strike action yesterday.

Three more walkouts from today are still set to go ahead, unless there is a breakthrough in the row.

A further eight days of strikes are planned in the coming weeks and the union has warned industrial action could continue until the middle of April.

A GMB spokesman said: “After talks with (conciliation service) Acas, GMB members voted to support a temporary cessation of hostilities.

“The company has suspended its actions against our members and in turn the strike has been suspended for today. This will allow a small negotiating team to meet and talk.

“Our members are angry and resolute. GMB is committed to getting a deal but it won’t be a deal at any price. The ball is in the company’s court.

“We need meaningful negotiations and an end to the threat to sack our members en masse.

A spokeswoman for British Gas owner Centrica said: “We’re still in confidential Acas talks so are unable to comment further at this stage.”