LONDON (voa) – British authorities have charged two Algerian men with terrorism possibly connected with an al-Qaida plot to bomb the U.S. embassy in Paris.
Baghdad Meziane appeared in court in the central British city of Leicester on charges of playing a leadership role in al-Qaida, inciting an act of terrorism overseas and four counts relating to the financing of terrorism. Brahim Benmerzouga is suspected of membership in al-Qaida, possessing an article for the purposes of terror, possession of racially inflammatory material and financing terrorism.
The court ordered them held in custody and set their next hearing for January 24.
News reports from Britain and France say the two men are suspected of involvement in the foiled plot to bomb the Paris embassy. British authorities arrested another Algerian, Kamel Daoudi, shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. He was detained in connection with the Paris embassy plot and later extradited to France. Also Thursday, police in Leicester arrested eight other men on terrorism and three more on immigration charges. The arrests were made at eight different locations throughout the city.
U.S. officials say the al-Qaida terrorist network masterminded the September attacks.
