German police detain several over possible plane bomb plot

BERLIN, Nov 20 (Reuters) German authorities have detained a number of people in connection with a possible plan to smuggle a bomb on to a passenger plane, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said today.

Prosecutors in Karlsruhe said they were investigating six suspects whom they have identified and a number of unidentified suspects.

Several of the suspects had approached someone during the summer who had access to the security department at an airport and expressed willingness to smuggle a suitcase or bag on to a plane for payment, a statement said.

''The suspects were temporarily taken into custody and informed of the suspicions against them before they were released on Saturday, with the exception of one wanted in connection with another crime,'' the office said.

The men are suspected of being members of a terrorist organisation, the office said.

The office said it had searched nine apartments on Friday that were located in the western German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.

It gave no details about the nationality of the suspects.

REUTERS AB BST1701