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Swiss police arrest two suspects amid terror alert

Xinhua, December 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two individuals from a Syrian provenance on suspicion of manufacture, concealment and transport of explosives and toxic gases have been arrested in the Geneva area, Swiss authority announced on Saturday.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, which is responsible for criminal proceedings related to Terrorism, said in a statement Saturday that it has opened a related criminal proceeding concerning a terror alert in the area of greater Geneva.

"In this regard, two individuals have been arrested," the statement said, adding that the two arrested suspects were also suspected of violating a law prohibiting groups such as al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (IS).

More information on the ongoing criminal proceedings will follow at a later stage, the statement said.

Geneva increased its level of security alert on Thursday as law enforcement personnel actively tracked down individuals thought to be linked to a terror alert. Pictures of four suspects had been circulated to local Geneva police, but it is not clear now if the two arrested are among the four being sought.

Following reports of "precise" terrorist threats in Geneva, the city's state prosecutor also announced Thursday that a penal procedure has been opened in view of acts preparatory to the commission of an offence.

This measure seeks to target individuals who, in accordance with a plan, carry out specific technical or organizational measures to commit serious crimes.

Though there is no indication of any specific increased risk against United Nations staff in Geneva, the UN headquarters in Geneva also increased its security measures at UN premises in the Swiss city.

Michael Moller, the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, said that the preventive measures are commensurate with the information received from Swiss authorities and other sources about police operations being conducted in the city of Geneva and the region. Endit