By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

A suspected plot to assassinate the pope during his visit to the UK last week has been deemed “not credible” by London’s Scotland Yard.

The Catholic Herald is reporting that all six men arrested in connection with an alleged plot to attack the Pope during his visit have been released without charges.

The men, who were all employed by a London street cleaning firm, were overheard “joking” about their intentions of killing the Pope and “plotting an attack” upon him during his visit. An informant reported this to police, who arrested five of the six men on Friday morning on suspicion of “the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.” The sixth man was picked up later in the day.

Ranging in age from 26 to 50, the men were all Muslim and believed to be of North African descent.

Police found no bomb-making or hazardous items in connection with the threat and eventually released the suspects.

Because the threat occurred on the second day of the Pope’s four-day visit to the country, his security arrangements were reviewed by Scotland Yard, but were found to be satisfactory, which meant there was no need to change his itinerary.

For his part, Pope Benedict appeared unaffected by the developments and continued with his engagements.

“The Pope is calm and happy and we go on with this trip with courage and joy,” said Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi. “We are totally confident in the work of the police and Scotland Yard.”

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