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Europe
Swiss arrests over Saudi attacks
2004-01-09
The Swiss authorities have arrested eight foreigners in connection with suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia.
No details on nationality released.
The detained are being held on suspicion of providing support to a criminal organisation, federal police said in a statement. "The police action was in the context of terrorism investigations... " the statement added. Twenty-six people - including one Swiss citizen - and nine attackers were killed in the Riyadh bombings last May.
"In the course of our inquiries related to terrorism - and in particular the attacks in Riyadh - an operation by the federal police took place simultaneously on Thursday in five cantons (regions)," Switzerland’s public prosecutor said. The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the Swiss authorities have been very keen to work with the United States since the 11 September 2001 attacks.
A little less keen on banking matters, but they’re doing it.
One key area of investigation has been into whether Switzerland’s banking systems could have been used in the funding of terror groups, our correspondent adds. But there has been no suggestion that the latest arrests are related to finance.
Aside from banking, what else is there in Switzerland? Unless they were buying Swiss arms?
Posted by:Steve

#6  Yes! thanks Eric. LOL.
Posted by: Dr. Zorba   2004-1-9 6:01:32 PM  

#5  From the movie, The Third Man [dir. Carol Reed]:

In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed—they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock!

Harry Lime [Orson Welles]
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2004-1-9 2:48:25 PM  

#4  My maternal grandfather's ancestors were Swiss. When he sold his small construction company here in the States, he bought the top of a small mountain nearby, refused to pave the driveway up (despite snowy winters) and posted signs saying "Trespassers Will Be Violated".



He meant it, too. I adored him as a kid but he was a really stubborn, uncooperative cuss with adults, I suspect. I also suspect a similar temperament still lurks in the cantons.

Posted by: anon descendent   2004-1-9 2:04:22 PM  

#3  I make it a point not to trust people who yodel.
Posted by: Fred   2004-1-9 12:48:17 PM  

#2  One key area of investigation has been into whether Switzerland’s banking systems could have been used in the funding of terror groups

Swiss banking has been used in funding all manner of facist, religious, mafia, embezzlers, NGO ripoffs. It wasn't oil for food, it was oil for a numbered account.

The Swiss have been playing this game forever. But now it's a nasty war, a real war, and the Swiss are in it up to their eyeballs.

If they don't open up their banking system then they are "with the terroist" and should be targeted just as much as Saddam was, equally!

But they are milky white people, they have wonderful chalets in the high mountains, they ski and ride bicycles, they are for peace, love peace, hate war, wont take sides, so honest. Just skimming off the top, No?
Posted by: Lucky   2004-1-9 12:27:45 PM  

#1  "Aside from banking, what else is there in Switzerland? Unless they were buying Swiss arms?"

Hmm, with the huge international diplomatic presence in Geneva, probably there is also a ready-made support network for going underground ?

Switzerland is heaven for your modern terrorist: secret banks, shady diplomats, and right in the center of Europe...
Posted by: Carl in N.H.   2004-1-9 12:13:59 PM  

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