The three suspected al Qaeda operatives arrested in Johannesburg and Cape Town days before the South African general elections are believed to be members of several of the organisation's cells in the country.
The three men were allegedly planning to target US companies such as McDonalds and others operating here.
It is believed the men would have used chemical weapons and explosives similar to those planned to blow up the American Embassy in Jordan, as well as the Jordanian intelligence office headquarters.
Information obtained on Friday night revealed that the Jordanian men, two of whom have been deported back to their own country, were part of a cell that entered South Africa late last year.
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| Cells are believed to be made up of at least four to six people |
The cells are believed to be made up of at least four to six people and can operate independently of other cells. There could be a number of al Qaeda cells in the country and all are thought to have begun setting up operations in 2002 and 2003.
The men, whom police have refused to identify, entered South Africa at different times and from different countries.
The first man is believed to have flown in via London six months before his arrest. The others are thought to have arrived at least eight months before their capture.
A senior police official, whose name is known to this newspaper, said the men had all entered the country on valid South African documentation.
"Our attention was attracted by their activities in South Africa," said the officer, who added that the activities resembled those associated with terrorist organisations operating throughout the world.
| Declined to comment on the matte |
All three men are on the national watch lists of several countries, including the US, Britain, Jordan, Spain, as well as Interpol's.
The police officer said there was no doubt over the people arrested "and we know that we have not made a mistake in these arrests".
The officer confirmed that the men had been picked up and that two had been deported to Jordan shortly after the elections because of the devastating effects their actions would have had on South Africa.
The third man, who is being detained in a police station, is believed to have refused to be deported back to Jordan.
"If the men had been allowed to carry out their actions they would have maimed and killed hundreds of innocent South Africans and this is why we acted the way we did and deported them," said the officer.
He said intelligence investigations were under way, but declined to state the nature of the operations for fear of jeopardising them.
It has been learnt however that, among other things, the investigation is looking into a possible syndicate which has operatives in the department of home affairs, which has been supplying the terror organisation with South African identity documents.
National police Director Sally de Beer declined to comment on the matter.
At the time of going to press it was unknown at which police station the third man was being held.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Saturday Argus on May 29, 2004
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