BBC News Online: World: Europe

Strasbourg arrests 'have Bin Laden link'

Suspicions of a plot to attack Strasbourg

The four men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of being part of a plot to launch attacks in Strasbourg, an eastern city near the German border.

They were also suspected of organising the escape to Spain of Mohamed Besnakhria, an Algerian said to be one of Bin Laden's chief lieutenants in Europe.

Documents used to forge identity papers were discovered when they were detained.

"For the time being we have to be extremely prudent about the involvement of these people in the planned Strasbourg attacks," a police source told Reuters, adding the arrests were largely "preventive".