Posted on 05/15/2004 6:44:36 AM PDT by knighthawk
PARIS -- Counterintelligence agents have arrested two Algerians suspected of ties to a dismantled network accused of planning a chemical attack, judicial officials said.
The men, whose names were not disclosed, were placed under investigation - one step short of being charged, the officials said Friday. They were arrested on Monday in the Paris region.
The arrests stemmed from a French investigation into a network that allegedly was preparing attacks with toxic gas against Russian interests in France, officials have said.
One of the two was described as an important member of the cell who made frequent trips to Spain. Several suspected members of the French-Chechnya network were arrested in Spain in early 2003, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity.
The second man detained was already in custody on charges of falsifying documents. He was moved from a jail west of Paris, and placed in the custody of France's counterterrorism agency.
So far, 21 people have been placed under investigation in connection with the so-called Chechen network. French authorities have said the terror cell was preparing attacks against Russian interests in France and Europe.
The network was dismantled in December 2002 with the arrests of nine suspects in the Paris suburbs of La Courneuve and Romainville.
Three of them had trained with Chechen rebels and met "high-level al-Qaida operatives" in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, near its border with Russia, the Interior Ministry said at the time.
One of the top suspects is Menad Benchellali, who has a brother held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay. His father, an imam, or Muslim prayer leader, his mother and another brother were placed under investigation in January in connection with the network.
The raids leading to the initial arrests turned up chemical formulas for explosives and a substance that, when subjected to heat or put in contact with water, would let off a highly toxic gas, judicial officials have said. Lists of chemicals and their price and a suit to protect against chemical attacks were among other items found.
Ping
I'm sure they won't be as constrained as we currently seem to be with regard to interrogation techniques. LOL
'French authorities have said the terror cell was preparing attacks against Russian interests in France and Europe.'
I hope they don't make these suspects "stand in an uncomfortable position" for more than 45 minutes...
So what did France do to cause that network to be setup?
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