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France seizes terror plot suspects

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Five Algerians with alleged links to Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden have been detained in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

The four men and one woman are suspected of organising the escape to Spain of Mohamed Besnakhria, 34, an Algerian said to be one of bin Laden's chief lieutenants in Europe, Reuters reported. The U.S. accuses bin Laden of orchestrating the September 11 terror attacks.

The five people were taken to Paris where they were being questioned, but have not been charged, the Ministry of Interior told CNN on Saturday.

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French radio reported that at the time of the arrest, the five were carrying documents that led authorities to believe they were planning attacks on targets in Strasbourg, possibly the city's cathedral.

Strasbourg also houses the headquarters of the European Parliament.

The five were detained on Friday on the orders of French anti-terrorist judges as part of an inquiry into a suspected plot to launch attacks in Strasbourg in December 2000, and were still being questioned in Strasbourg, a police source told Reuters.

However, the source was cautious about the links between those arrested and the suspected plot in Strasbourg.

"For the time being we have to be extremely prudent about the involvement of these people in the planned Strasbourg attacks," he said, adding the arrests were largely "preventive."

Documents used for creating false identity papers were found during the arrest operation, he said.

Arrested in the southeastern Spanish city of Alicante, Bensakhria was extradited to France in July where he is still being held. He is suspected of having planned an attack against Strasbourg's Christmas market or its cathedral in December 2000.

The arrest of 10 people in Italy, Germany and France last year led to the discovery of the plans. Those detained in Frankfurt, Germany, had weapons and a video tape that appeared to register the layout of central Strasbourg's streets.

"These arrests should allow for final checks into the Frankfurt network," the source said.

Italian justice officials said earlier this year that those detained there were believed to be preparing an attack against the U.S. embassy in Rome.

International police have strengthened their co-operation in the wake of the September 11 hijack attacks on U.S. cities.

CNN's Paris Bureau Chief Peter Humi said police had stepped up surveillance in parts of France where there were large Arab and North African populations.