German Police Arrest Al Queda Terrorist Suspect

German police in Mönchengladbach have arrested a man they suspect is a member of the Al Queda terrorist network.

Officers stormed the hotel room of the man, who was in his 30s or 40s, Saturday night and took him into custody. They would not release his name and covered his head to shield him from television cameras and photographers.

The man apparently checked into the hotel in the city’s downtown on Saturday using an Italian name. In his room, they found a large amount of cash but declined to release further details. There were no weapons found in the room.

Police arrested the man after receiving tips from Germany’s federal investigation agency that three possible Al Queda suspects were staying in Mönchengladbach.

Reeling from evidence that the men suspected of flying the hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11 planned their attacks in Germany, criminal authorities have launched wide-ranging investigations into suspected terrorist organizations. Up until Sept. 11, German authorities had a list of 3,250 people they suspected were involved in terrorist activities.

Since Sept. 11, German police have arrested more than six men suspected of involvement in terrorist organizations. Some have been released shortly after their arrests because of a lack of evidence.

The police have received the support of the government and Germany’s Interior Minister Otto Schily who has initiated anti-terror legislation that broadens their investigative powers and infuses millions in new funding.