This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2549

German police foil Islamist terror plot to pay airport worker to load explosives into El Al plane -suspects released

November 20, 2006

Six suspects are under investigation by German authorities for plotting to blow up an El Al passenger flight out of the Frankfurt airport. The attack was foiled when an airport employee backed out.

According to media reports the would-be terrorists, mostly Jordanian and Palestinian Arabs, were negotiating with a worker who held security clearance at the airport, located in the state of Hesse. The airport serves as the hub for Lufthansa Airlines and is one of the busiest in Europe. The airport employee initially agreed to load a bag containing explosives into the belly of the plane, but refused at the end due to a disagreement over how much he would be paid. The six, in addition to other unidentified conspirators, were backed by a "so far unknown" terror organization, according to a statement issued Monday by the Federal Prosecutor's Office. They were picked up last Friday by German authorities and held overnight for questioning. All were released except one who was wanted on charges stemming from a different crime. German law mandates that police present a judge enough evidence to show cause for holding the suspects for long-term investigation within 48 hours or release them. Aside from the statement by the federal prosecutors, government and airline authorities across the board refused comment on the case and were unwilling to provide any further information.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2549