The arrests come a day after Danish police conducted raids and took eight young Muslims into custody whom they suspect of plotting a bomb attack and having links with al Qaeda. No direct link has yet been established between the two plots.

Federal prosecutor Monika Harms said the three suspects had bought 700kg (1,500lbs) of hydrogen peroxide to make massive bombs. She said: "We have prevented what we believe would have been the worst terror attacks ever on German soil".

She declined to name specific targets but said the suspects had an eye on institutions and establishments frequented by Americans in Germany, including discos, pubs and airports.

Citing unnamed security sources in Berlin, the broadcaster Suedwestfunk said Frankfurt International Airport and US Ramstein Air Base were among targets.

Joerg Ziercke, the head of Germany's federal crime office, said the men had a "profound hatred of US citizens".

German security sources have reportedly said the men belonged to the Islamic Jihad, an Egyptain terrorist group that merged with al Qaeda in 2001.

Wolfgang Bosbach, an MP with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, said the plot may have been timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 2001 atrocities in the US.

Franz Josef Jung, the defence minister, said: "The attacks were planned for the near future. They presented a real threat to life."

Read it all. I do not know about you, but I have tried to pray regularly for those invovled in national security and antiterrorism work. It is important--KSH.

Filed under: * Economics, Politics • Terrorism

1. Scott Gunn wrote: I do not know about you, but I have tried to pray regularly for those invovled in national security and antiterrorism work. It is important. Yes, and it’s also good to pray for the terrorists. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Pax, Scott+ September 5, 7:27 pm | [comment link]

2. physician without health wrote: There is a series of more complete stories at http://www.spiegel.de/international September 5, 9:12 pm | [comment link]

3. Katherine wrote: Yes, pray for our intelligence and anti-terrorism services, and pray that all Muslims may see the truth and be delivered from the evil one. September 6, 12:33 am | [comment link]

4. azusa wrote: After the Reconquista, Spain expelled the Muslims in its midst. That would never fly today, but I suspect that is the only way Europe could know peace. The demogaphic changes in the past 50 years have no precedent in the preceding 400 years. Immigration from Muslim countries to Europe should be halted - but it won’t. Europeans have ceased ‘breeding’, and as they age, they will end up like the poor residents of nursing homes being abused by the ‘staff’. September 6, 12:58 am | [comment link]

5. libraryjim wrote: Didn’t the new president of France recently offer to provide one way plane tickets for all immigrants living in France if they would agree to leave?  Just asking. September 7, 4:34 pm | [comment link]

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