Terror Bust - Those Frisky Danes

Nine arrested according to the BBC. Aljazeera suggests they're immigrants. Really? I figured they'd all end up being named Lars. But the best bit is at the end. Why contact Muslims leaders? Hmm?

The Danish Security Intelligence Service (PET) said the nine were arrested early on Tuesda morning in or around Vollsmose, a poor district mainly inhabited by immigrants in Denmark's third largest city, Odense.

They were held under anti-terrorism laws introduced after the September 11 attacks in the United States.

Aljazeera also reminds us of the Mohammed cartoon violence. Interesting that they seem to be first out of the box acknowledging a possible link. AT least they are honest in that regard, moreso than our own media will likely ever be.

Earlier this year, a row over cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammed published in a Danish paper sparked attacks on Danish embassies in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East in which more than 50 people died.

Denmark, which has troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, last month charged five Muslim men under the terrorism laws, following decisions led by Espersen.
   
PET said several of the nine arrested on Tuesday would be questioned later in the day and that police would request they be kept in custody. Under Danish law, suspects can be held for several months while police and prosecutors investigate.
   
Lars Findsen, the PET director, said: "We have uncovered evidence that suggests that some of the persons were in the process of preparing for a terrorist attack."

Findsen said the arrests would not immediately affect Denmark's terrorism-risk assessment, which has been heightened for some time.

He said police had contacted a number of Muslim leaders to inform them about the situation.

Comments

[Phoenix]

The pendulum is just working its way to its apex. When it gets there, I think it will be the signal that 'thinking' westerners have had enough, and it will do the inexorable thing pendulums do: Swing back into the fire from a different angle. I have a feeling the Israelis may be astride that first downward swing and we'll be singing the Hallelujah Chorus as background music. Europe deserves its caged canary status.