German Police Release Suspected Plane Plotters

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November 20, 2006 1:10 PM

Six people in Germany are suspected of planning to smuggle a bomb aboard an airplane.

Despite the fact that investigators have indicated they found evidence that the suspects had been negotiating with a Frankfurt airport security pass holder to smuggle a bag of explosives onto a plane, five of the six were released over the weekend.

A security official speaking anonymously to The Associated Press said the plot focused on Frankfurt airport, and the target was Israel's El Al airline. El Al airline has the most stringent passenger check procedures and is considered the gold standard for airline security.

Following a raid on Friday, federal police arrested the six suspects but released all but one over the weekend. German law permits police to hold suspects for 24 hours unless there is hard evidence to charge them or hold them longer.

The suspects are still under investigation, however, and could face terrorism charges at a later date. Despite their release, German officials said this is an example of authorities acting early to prevent any attacks.

"This case is encouraging in that our security authorities are clearly very observant, get very close to possible [terrorist] structures and, at least so far, have succeeded in intervening early enough," Stefan Kaller, an Interior Ministry spokesman, told the AP.