Denmark Arrests Eight Terror Suspects

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish intelligence agents early yesterday arrested eight alleged Islamic terrorists with links to leading Al Qaeda figures, and said the suspects were plotting an attack involving explosives.

"An act of terror has been prevented with the nighttime arrests," Justice Minister Lene Espersen said.

Jakob Scharf, head of the PET intelligence service, did not identify the target of the plot, but said the suspects — six Danish citizens and two foreigners with residence permits — had been under surveillance for some time.

He identified them as "militant Islamists with connections to leading Al Qaeda persons."

Terrorists have not hit Denmark in more than two decades, but the July 2005 bombings in London stirred fears that the Scandinavian country could be targeted for its participation in the American-led coalition in Iraq.

Those fears grew after a Danish newspaper published 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, triggering fiery protests in Muslim countries in early 2006. Many Muslims considered the drawings blasphemous.

Mr. Scharf said the planned attack did not appear linked to the cartoons or Denmark's involvement in Iraq.

The suspects arrested yesterday, ages 19 to 29, were not identified. All eight were arrested without incident in raids on 11 locations in and around Copenhagen, authorities said.

The suspects are of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali, and Turkish origin, Mr. Scharf told reporters. He said Danish investigators had worked with "several foreign cooperation partners" before making the arrests.

The TV2 News channel reported that a 19-year-old electrician was arrested in suburban Ishoej, while a taxi driver in his early 20s was arrested in Copenhagen's Noerrebro district. TV footage shot from a helicopter showed bomb squads and forensics agents at those locations.