Anti-terrorism police in the Netherlands have arrested a 32-year-old French citizen accused of planning attacks in France. Three other suspects have been detained as Europe ramps up security after attacks in Brussels.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. de Waal
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"French authorities on Friday requested the arrest of the French citizen, who had been identified in a terrorism investigation," Dutch prosecutors said in a statement. The man was arrested for his "involvement in preparing a terrorist attack," they added.
Officials did not name him, but said he would be extradited to France as soon as possible. Two other suspects, 43 and 47 years old, and "having an Algerian background" were also detained. Police said they had not identified another suspect caught in the operation.
The arrests were carried out by a special squad, including Dutch intelligence agency AIVD and prosecutors. Police searched two neighborhoods associated with the suspect in western Rotterdam. People living nearby were evacuated for precaution, state lawyers said.
The suspect's arrest comes shortly after French investigators nabbed Reda Kriket, a 34-year-old French citizen who was allegedly planning a slew of new attacks in the French capital.
France - like several countries in Western Europe - has been on high alert following deadly terror strikes in recent times. Before suicide bombers killed over 30 people in Brussels on Tuesday, terrorists struck Paris on November 13 last year, killing 130 in a series of bombings.
mg/ls (Reuters, dpa, AFP)
Brussels, Istanbul, Jakarta: Global terror in 2016
The March 22 terror attack in Brussels was Europe's deadliest since the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. DW takes a look at some of the major terrorist attacks across the globe in 2016.
Image: Reuters/F. Lenoir
Bombing in Istanbul: January 12
A suicide bombing on a popular square in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, left 13 people dead and more than a dozen injured. Almost all of the dead were foreigners. The perpetrator was identified as Nabil Fadli, a Syrian devotee of the "Islamic State" (IS).
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel
Jakarta bombings: January 14
Indonesian police commandos raided the house of a suspected terrorist in Cirebon, located on the island of Java, following the January 14, 2016, bomb attacks in Jakarta. A series of bombings in the capital left eight people dead and another 24 injured. IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
Image: Getty images/AFP/Str
Splendid Hotel attack: January 15
Al Qaeda-backed militants attacked the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. At least 23 people from 18 countries were killed. A joint operation by French and Burkinabe forces freed many hostages.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/W. Elsen
Ankara bombing: February 17
Kurdistan Freedom Falcons claimed the attack on a convoy of buses, killing military personnel and civilians during the evening rush hour in Turkey's capital, Ankara. At least 29 people were killed and another 60 injured.
Image: Reuters/Ihlas News Agency
Hotel attack in Mogadishu: February 26
A suicide bomber rammed his car into a hotel in the Hamarweyne district of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and then gunmen stormed the building. The attack, by militants linked to al Shabab, killed at least 15 people and left dozens wounded.
Image: Reuters/F. Omar
Grand-Bassam shootings: March 13
Gunmen linked to al Qaeda's North Africa branch attacked the Etoile du Sud hotel in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast. At least 18 people were killed and another 33 were injured. The hotel is popular with expats in Ivory Coast.
Image: Reuters/L. Gnago
Ankara bombing: March 13
A car filled with explosives blew up in a public square in the heart of the Turkish capital, killing 37 people and injuring 127. The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons claimed responsibility.
Image: Reuters/U. Bektas
Brussels bombings: March 22
At least 34 people were killed and more than 170 injured in coordinated attacks in Brussels. Two blasts occurred at the departures area of Brussels Airport at about 8 a.m. One hour later, an explosion hit Maelbeek metro station, which is close to the main EU buildings.