US warned Dutch of 'suspicious items' on flight: official

WASHINGTON, Aug 30, 2010 (AFP) - The United States told Dutch officials that "suspicious items" had been found in luggage belonging to two men reportedly arrested on terror charges in Amsterdam, a US official said Monday.

"Suspicious items were located in checked luggage associated with two passengers on United Flight 908 from Chicago O'Hare to Amsterdam last night," the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement emailed to AFP.

"Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items," the department said, though it added that the items "were not deemed to be dangerous in and of themselves."

The statement came shortly after Dutch police told AFP they had arrested two men who arrived in Amsterdam on a flight from Chicago.

ABC News, citing US and Dutch officials, said the men had been charged with "preparation of a terrorist attack."


by Moises Avila Roldan
(c) 2010 AFP