Jewish militants held over 'mosque plot'

Rubin (left) denies the charges

By the BBC's Steve Kingston in Washington

In the United States the leader of a militant Jewish group has been charged with plotting to blow up buildings used by Muslims.

Irving Rubin, who leads the Jewish Defence League, was arrested along with one of its members, Earl Krugel, at a house in Los Angeles.

The FBI say they had just taken delivery of a quantity of high explosives.

Bomb-making equipment and guns were also found in the house.

Tip-off

The two men are accused of planning to bomb The King Fahd mosque in Culver City, part of greater Los Angeles, as well as the offices of Darrell Issa, an Arab-American congressman from southern California.

The authorities were acting on a tip-off from a third participant in the alleged plot, which was described by an FBI spokesman as a "planned act of violent hatred".

The Jewish Defence League was founded in the late 1960s and has been controversial in promoting the Jewish cause.

Mr Rubin denies the charges.

His lawyer says the arrests are part of an over-reaction to the events of 11 September.