London police arrest 6 men for plot against Pope [updated]

September 17, 2010

Police in London arrested 5 men on terrorism charges early on Friday morning in connection with a possible plot against Pope Benedict XVI. A 6th man was arrested later in the day.

Police said that the arrests were “on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of act of terrorism.” However a spokesman for Scotland Yard said that the threat against the Pope was a “low key” concern and the arrests were mainly precautionary.

Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told reporters that Pope Benedict had been informed of the arrests. The Pope was not concerned, he said, and no changes were planned in schedule of events for the Pope’s visit to Great Britain.

“We have full confidence in the police,” Father Lombardi said. “There is no reason for concern and therefore no need to change our plans.”

The men arrested were employed as streetsweepers, and the original five arrests were made at the depot of the firm that employed them. (The sixth man was arrested at his home.) Police declined to give any details about the men who were arrested, but at least one witness said that some-- if not all-- were from northern Africa.

 

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Further information:

• No change to Papal schedule following arrests (Vatican Radio)
• 6 arrested in UK in alleged terror threat to pope (AP)
• 5 London cleaners arrested in alleged pope threat (AP)