Arab Terrorism Suspect, Weapons Seized in England

Anti-terrorist detectives have arrested an Arab and uncovered a cache of explosives and weapons destined for use in terrorist attacks throughout Europe, Scotland Yard said today.

The discovery came during the investigation of the attempted assassination of one of the Arab world’s most controversial political cartoonists, Ali Naji Awad Adhami.

Adhami, who was shot in the head July 22 while walking on a London street, remains in critical condition on a life-support machine.

Scotland Yard announced that anti-terrorist squad detectives, led by Supt. Alan Talbot, raided an apartment in Hull, a port town on the northeast England coast, last Wednesday and arrested an Arab suspect and found the munitions cache.

The Arab, identified only as a 28-year-old research assistant, was being questioned in London, Scotland Yard said. No formal charges have been brought against him.

A second Arab was held for questioning in London but was to be released later today, Scotland Yard said.

The munitions included 68 pounds of explosives, four assault rifles, seven hand grenades, bomb-making equipment such as detonators and clocks, and a variety of ammunition and magazines, the announcement said.

“All the items were hidden in the flat and, we believe, were being stored for future terrorist attacks Europe-wide,” it said.

“The hunt for the attempted assassin of Mr. Adhami continues.”

Adhami, a Palestinian, worked for the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas and was a critic not only of Israel but also of the Palestine Liberation Organization and many facets of Arab life and politics.