American-Yemeni passengers detained in Netherlands over terrorist plot fears

New York, Aug 31 (ANI): Two United States residents of Yemeni descent, who flew from Chicago to Amsterdam on Sunday night, have been detained at Schiphol Airport by Dutch Police after landing on Monday over fears of a dry run for a terrorist plot.

American law enforcement officials, however, said the men have not been charged so far, and added that the episode might be a misunderstanding.

“There’s nothing at all confirmed at this point that’s associated with terrorism,” The New York Times quoted, one official, as saying.

On Sunday, airport security screeners in Birmingham recovered 7,000 dollars in cash, a cellphone taped to a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, three cellphones taped together and several watches taped together from one of the men.

Since no evidence of explosives was found, the 48-year-old man was permitted to fly to O’Hare Airport in Chicago. He was joined there by the second man, and they both boarded United Airlines Flight 908 to Amsterdam.

However, the officials discovered that at Birmingham, the 48-year-old passenger had checked his luggage on a different set of flights, to Dulles International Airport outside Washington and on to Sana, Yemen, by way of Dubai.

After security agents realized that he had not boarded the flight from Chicago to Dulles, they ordered the airliner back to the gate and retrieved his luggage, which contained the suspicious items.

“The items were not deemed to be dangerous in and of themselves, and as we share information with our international partners, Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items. This matter continues to be under investigation,” said Amy Kudwa, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.

The duo were detained by the police when they arrived at Schiphol Airport at the request of the American authorities “on the basis of suspicions of preparation for terrorist attacks.” (ANI)