LONDON — British police arrested six men in London on Friday over a suspected threat to Pope Benedict XVI, who is on a historic four-day state visit here.
Officials said they received information overnight that prompted the arrests, though they would not comment on the scope of the threat. The men, ages 26 to 50, were being detained under Britain’s Terrorism Act.
Five were taken into custody at a garbage depot in central London. A sixth man was arrested later in the day at his home. None had yet been charged.
Police said the five initially arrested in a predawn raid were suspected of “the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.” Police declined to comment on the nationalities or religions of the suspects.
The BBC reported that the suspects were of North African origin, not British citizens, and were subcontracted street cleaners in central London.
Initial searches of premises associated with the men did not uncover any hazardous materials.
Vatican officials said the pope was “calm.” He is on the first papal state visit to Britain, which broke with the Vatican in the 16th century over a refused divorce for Henry VIII.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said church officials had no information on any potential plot and did not expect it to affect the pontiff’s visit. Lombardi added that he felt “relaxed” about the way it was being handled.
British officials did not see the development as significant enough to increase the national threat level. The pope is already under heavy security while in Britain.
Benedict’s trip to largely secular Britain has been highly controversial, sparking a flurry of negative media reports and planned protests. Benedict began his trip in Scotland on Thursday, meeting Queen Elizabeth II and holding an open-air Mass.
