Sweden, Norway hold suspects after terror raids

By Simon Johnson and John Acher

STOCKHOLM/OSLO (Reuters) - Police in Sweden and Norway detained six people on Thursday on suspicion of offences related to terrorism after carrying out coordinated raids.

The move comes just over a week after Norway's intelligence agency said that the threat of terror attacks by Islamic radicals was rising in part because of the country's military presence in Afghanistan. Norway has about 500 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission.

There have been no major terror attacks in the Nordic region, but Sweden's Security Service has warned that the country might serve as a recruiting ground and source of finance for terrorism elsewhere.

"Three people have been taken into custody," said Maria Martinsson, spokeswoman for the Swedish Security Service.

"They are suspected of preparing terrorist activity and of financing terrorism."

The three, all Swedish citizens, were held in raids around the capital Stockholm.

Norway's state security police said they had detained three people in the capital Oslo on suspicion of funding terrorist activities abroad. Police also raided at least two Internet cafes in Oslo and took away computer equipment.

"We are looking for evidence," spokesman Martin Bernsen said.