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Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ January 13, 1995, AP News Archive, Defense Secretary Confirms Two Arrested In Plot Against Pope, by Robert H. Reid,

January 13, 1995, AP News Archive, Defense Secretary Confirms Two Arrested In Plot Against Pope, by Robert H. Reid,

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January 13, 1995, AP News Archive, Defense Secretary Confirms Two Arrested In Plot Against Pope, by Robert H. Reid, Associated Press
MANILA, PHILIPPINES MANILA, Philippines (AP) _ Two people have been arrested in a Muslim extremist plot against Pope John Paul II, the defense secretary said today, and newspapers reported police were searching for about 20 foreigners in the alleged conspiracy.
Security has been tightened for the visit by the pontiff, who arrived Thursday on the first stop of a four-nation, 11-day Asian tour. Huge crowds in this predominately Roman Catholic nation have turned out to cheer the pope in his public appearances.
Defense Secretary Renato de Villa confirmed to reporters that two people had been arrested in an alleged plot against the pope but refused to give any other details.
Last Friday, police raided an apartment a few blocks from the residence of the Vatican ambassador, where the pope is staying, and seized bomb-making materials, according to community leaders.
A few days later, U.S. officials here and in Washington confirmed that the Philippine government had warned of a plot to bomb an American airliner over the Pacific during the papal visit.
Security has been stepped up at airports in Manila, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo following the warning.
Two newspapers, The Manila Chronicle and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, reported today that police were looking for a 26-year-old Kuwaiti-born ``electronics expert'' believed to be the ringleader.
Television station ABS-CBN said the conspirators had slipped into the country in small groups over a period of weeks, entering through the southern island of Mindanao which is the homeland of the Muslim minority.
The two newspapers also reported police raided the Traders Hotel in Manila to apprehend four Pakistanis, but the suspects had escaped hours earlier.
Edwin Ordona, a hotel security officer, told The Associated Press the ``raiders'' identified themselves as police and said they were looking for Pakistanis who allegedly mauled an Arab tourist in another hotel.
The Pakistani ambassador, Afzal Qadir, said he was told by high-level Philippine officials that no Pakistani was involved in the threats against the pope.
On Wednesday, President Fidel Ramos said ``some arrests'' had been made and ``incriminating evidence'' seized but refused to elaborate.
Manila police intelligence chief Maj. Cipriano Angeles declined to comment on the reports. Other police officials said they had been instructed to say nothing beyond the Ramos statement.

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