US embassy was target of UK terror plot

The US embassy in London was a target of a group of men arrested last week in Britain.

The US embassy in London was a target of a group of men arrested last week in Britain and charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and preparing acts of terrorism,the US State Department said on Monday.

Twelve men were arrested on December 20 in what British police said were counter-terrorism raids essential to protect the public from the threat of attack. Three were later released without charges,leaving nine who appeared in court on Monday to face the charges.

Asked if he was aware of reports the suspects indicated that the US embassy in London was on their target list,State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters: I am aware and … obviously our folks in London are aware of this. In response to a follow-up question during a telephone briefing with reporters,Toner said: You asked me if we were aware that we were on the targeting list and I confirmed that.

The suspects were from London,the Welsh capital of Cardiff and the central English city of Stoke. A British police statement said the men had conspired to cause explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. It added they had been downloading material from the Internet,researching and discussing potential targets,carrying out reconnaissance and igniting and testing incendiary material.

Meanwhile,a Dutch judge Tuesday extended the detention of one suspect in an alleged terrorism plot by Somali immigrants. Prosecutors said two other Somalis remain suspects in the case,though they were released. They were among 12 Somalis detained in Rotterdam last week in what prosecutors said was a move to stop an imminent attack against an unidentified target. No weapons or explosives were found. The other nine have been cleared of suspicion and freed or handed to immigration authorities.

The Dutch investigation comes at a time of heightened concern over terrorism in Europe.