Posted on 08/24/2006 3:10:46 PM PDT by saganite
Passengers aboard a Northwest Airlines plane bound for Mumbai and forced to turn back to Amsterdam said air marshals swooped after 12 people began fidgeting with mobile phones and plastic bags, Dutch media said on Thursday.
The 12 were arrested on Wednesday after the plane landed at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Prosecution authorities said they were still holding the 12 but would not give their identities or nationalities.
"I saw the air marshals run and I knew something was amiss," a 31-year-old businessman aboard the plane told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.
"Some had beards, others were unshaven, one was wearing a robe. Some had baseball caps," another passenger told the paper.
Other passengers commented those arrested were from Asia and aged between 25 and 35.
Two Dutch F-16 fighter jets accompanied the 273-seat Northwest DC10 plane which had reached German airspace en route to Mumbai before it was forced to turn back to Schiphol.
The same flight departed for Mumbai, India's financial hub, on Thursday morning at 0830 GMT after passengers spent the night in hotels.
Dutch police can hold suspects for three days without charge, extended by another three days in special circumstances.
"All 12 are still being held but we cannot give any information about their identity," said a spokesman for the Dutch public prosecutor's office.
Passenger Sarat Menon told Dutch daily De Telegraaf: "Shortly before the flight I spoke to them in a coffee bar. I didn't detect anything suspicious."
He added the situation later on the plane remained calm throughout.
Security has been increased at airports worldwide in the last two weeks after British police said they had foiled a plot to blow up planes in mid-Atlantic using liquid explosives disguised as drinks.
Mumbai has also been on high alert after commuter train bombings on July 11 that killed 186 people.
The return of the Northwest plane to Amsterdam did not lead to heightened security and did not affect other flights at Schiphol -- Europe's third largest cargo airport and fourth biggest passenger hub -- an airport spokeswoman said.
The Brits call everybody from Asia an Asian.
Hezbocrats.
Latest news is all these guys were from India, were Hindus and Christians, and were doing something very Indian ~ playing with their cellphones.
Japan is not the only country in Asia.
Yeah, those idiots think people that live in Asia are called Asians.
Asian is a race, not a continental designation! (/sarc)
Believe it or not "Asian" is not a race.
Or Koranimals on a Plane.
If the guys spoke Urdu, that means they are pretty fricken Asian.
I can tell you right now that NOTHING will happen to these mutants. The Dutch can't scratch their own ass! Miserable society that applauds euthanasia and allows addicts and trafficing to demoralize their stupid country.
Their too busy shoving diamonds up the arses to play with terrorists!
You can't yell "I've got a bomb" on a plane or in an airport because it is a criminal act.
These dry-runner al-qaeda types can get away with all the actions of constructing a bomb or carrying out a terrorist attack and they just walk away.
This needs to be a crime as well, so we can lock up these innocent dry-run al-qaeda types before they practise so much that al-qaeda has a fool-proof plan that kills thousands again.
Write your congressman because we need a new law against this yesterday.
Thanks! I can photoshop but not shaded embossed text.
all of these will be "innocent" peace loving muslims or hiding their muslim belief...they will be released and the operatives will have a little more intel.
they know that they'll need more people on board/they'll have to figure a way to block aisles... or just have a muslim working on maintenance or services leave weapons and explosive components on board.
Guerrilla warfare... constant intel gathering, exploit weaknesses, avoid presenting any opportunity for a defeat..stalemates and limited losses over time will wear down the enemy..
That's why places like Falluja were so good.... all the little roaches gathered in one place.
Joke
That has finally been dealt with.
Air Marshall Dress Code Changed
They make them look so American.
Thats good, they were Indians.
As far as I am concerend, if any one starts to act suspicous, arrest them. If no air marshal to do the deed, passengers must act, get in the face of anyone who is arrousing suspicion. I will not sit by and let a few people intentionaly frighten hundreds with their antics.
I will get in their face, nose to nose, until an Air marshal takes control. If no Air marshal and they touch me first, gloves are off. I am not going to be intimidated. I am dead serious, I will not be a passive victim.
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