Six men freed day after they were arrested during pope visit

London, England (News Today) - Six men arrested Friday morning in London on suspicion of terrorism related to Pope Benedict XVI's visit were freed overnight without charge, an official said.

Scotland Yard spokesman Alan Crockford told CNN that the men were released around midnight (7 p.m. ET Saturday).

Their release came after police searched eight homes in north and east London and two businesses in central London, including a street-cleaning operation, London's Metropolitan Police said, according to the Press Association

The searches found no weapons or suspicious materials, it said.

The six are aged 26, 27, 29, 36, 40 and 50, it said.

The 29-year-old was arrested at a home in north London Friday afternoon; the others were arrested as they prepared to start their shift as street cleaners before 6 a.m. Friday, it said.

Prior to the men's release, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the pope and his representatives were not worried about the arrests.

"The police have already said that the information they have until now collected demonstrated there is no need to change anything about the program of the pope and the security," Lombardi told reporters in London.

He said he believed the police had simply taken "normal precautionary measures," and that everyone remained "calm."

"The pope is happy with the trip until now, and we can go on with the same joy as until now," Lombardi said.

The men are street cleaners for Westminster City Council, the borough of London that includes Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and many of the city's tourist attractions, the council said.

They work for one of Westminster's contractors, Veolia Environmental Services, the council said.

They were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows police to hold them without charge for 28 days.

Source : CNN

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