Six people are under investigation in Germany in an alleged plot to blow up an Israeli airliner, it was revealed today.
Several of the accused approached a person with security clearance at an unidentified airport last summer, and that individual agreed to smuggle an explosives-filled bag onto a plane in exchange for money, federal prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said some of the accused then contacted their "so far unknown" terrorist backers but could not agree on a payment amount.
A security official said the plot was centred on the Frankfurt airport and that the plan apparently was to attack a plane belonging to Israel's El Al.
Three of the suspects were arrested in Hesse state, where the airport is located, the official said.
The six, who could face charges of belonging to or supporting a terrorist organisation, were temporarily detained Friday, but five of them were released on Saturday after questioning. The remaining suspect was kept in custody over an unrelated matter.
Under German law, authorities must release suspects after a maximum of 48 hours unless they have enough evidence to convince a judge that they can be held in long-term investigative custody.
AP