2 Arrested in Possible Dry Run for Terror Attack

(CBS)  Updated: 9/1/10 - Both the U.S and Dutch authorities have cleared the passengers of any criminal wrongdoings.

Two Men on a United Airlines flight from Chicago were detained today when the plane arrived in the Netherlands.

U.S. officials say luggage belonging to one of the men contained what appeared to be mock bombs - and they may have been testing the security system.

CBS News Justice correspondent Bob Orr reports U.S. officials are still trying to figure out whether or not this is a real threat. But, it is suspicious. Two men who flew from Chicago to Amsterdam have now been arrested the Netherlands.

Sources say one of the men, Ahmed Mohammed Nasser al Soofi, had $7,000 in cash and what looked like mock explosive devices in 2 checked bags, seven cell phones - some of them we're told were taped to empty bottles - and watches taped to shampoo bottles.

The bags carrying those suspicious items did not go with the man on the flight to Amsterdam. Instead, the bags went to Dulles Airport near Washington - where they were confiscated by U.S. authorities. Officials say al Soofi, who originally was heading through Dulles to Yemen had changed his itinerary to the Amsterdam flight.

While two men have been arrested, authorities now say they are not linked to one another. The investigation is focused solely on al Soofi.

Investigators say this does not appear to be connected to any terror threat -but authorities do want to know if al Soofi was testing security.

These were amateurish-like mock devices - the very kind of thing that security is designed to find. And in fact, TSA did find them on a flight from Birmingham to Chicago and deemed them benign. That's why they were allowed to go to Chicago and then on.

The question really is, how did they get on a plane to Washington when he wasn't on the plane too.

[superfly885]

Hmmm... After the Oklahoma City Bombing (by Christian extremists) I am leary of fellow Christians driving Uhauls... Really people? Where do you come up with such hatred? How about David Koresh? Look what HE did.... Jonestown Massacre... Where were you crying for churches to be investigated for terrorism (by the way, having people commit mass suicide is a form of terrorism). Grow up, do YOUR part in protecting our nation and quit being so quick to blame a group for individual acts. Christians have whackos too. Cheers!

[carolcape]

Well it is a good thing that someone is watching those creeps. And how can you ever trust a Muslim. They are coming up all over the place recently. Here in Canada we have four arrests this week. I would say that the sleepers are many in the US and Canada. They are planning something and we have got to be vigilant. Where is Homeland Security now and what are they doing. Even taking fake bombs and the material this man had, throw the book at him. Whatever the sentence is, give him the max.

[partyofthefirstpart]

and they wonder why we hate their guts. just a primitive culture of violence and hatred towards everyone. thats not a over-reaction either, i never tape watches to shampoo bottles when i fly.

[Vertrauen]

gee...and some people 'wonder with awe' where the association of fear connects with the muslim - if the muslims really cared about saving the face of wanting their religion to be recognised as 'peaceful' as well as having other faiths understand what means to them, they'd be turning in every terrorist they know, including Bin Laden...but they won't - we flew in from Chicago yesterday and I can say I am guilty of being leery myself when we encounter muslims, not only only in O'Hare, but at every airport we travel through, and that's sad - Good vs evil, and the good muslims had better start their own bid for peace, or the bad will eat them alive