Germany charges terror suspects

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- German authorities have formally arrested eight Arab men, following a nationwide sweep against alleged terrorists.

The German federal prosecutor's office said the eight were among 13 men detained this week in a police operation geared at cracking down on Muslim militant groups in Germany.

All eight were charged with belonging to or helping a German cell of the London-based Sunni-Palestinian Al Tawhid organisation which is said to support the idea of jihad or holy war.

Federal prosecutor Kay Nehm said in a statement that six of the men formally charged with being cell members were arrested on Tuesday in Karlsruhe.

A 38-year-old Egyptian detained on Wednesday in Nuremberg was also charged with membership of the terrorist cell.

The eighth man charged is alleged to have provided the group with logistical support.

Frau Scheuten, the office spokesman, said a 36-year-old Palestinian named Mohamed Abu D., who has the aliases Yaser H. and Abu Ali and who lived in the city of Essen, was the founder of the cell.

The others were three Palestinians, an Egyptian, a Jordanian and an Iraqi. They ranged in age from 25 to 32 and were all living in Germany, Scheuten added.

Nehm said the cell had begun to plan attacks in Germany, although no special targets were defined.

It is believed that up until recently, the German cell had been involved with falsifying passports and travel documents.

The statement said that 21 objects were seized as evidence, including false identity papers, computer equipment and a handgun.

Officials said there was no apparent connection between the German Al Tawhid group, and a cell uncovered in Hamburg that was linked to planning and carrying out the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.