An alleged threat to Pope Benedict XVI led to the pre-dawn arrests of five men in London on Friday on the second day of the pontiff's trip to Britain, police said. The Vatican said the pope was calm and so far planned no changes to his schedule. The men, between the ages of 26 and 50, were detained under the Terrorism Act at a business in central London. They are being questioned at a London police station and have not been charged. Police said an initial search of the business and other properties did not uncover any hazardous items. Police said they received information about a potential threat against the pope overnight, prompting the armed operation to arrest the men early Friday morning. Police declined to say whether the men were British or give details of their ethnicity, but there was no indication that it was a threat involving national security. Protesters and activists have previously been arrested under the country's terrorism laws during high-profile events in Britain such as economic summits and state visits. The pope's visit has divided opinion in officially Protestant, highly secular Britain. The trip has been overshadowed by disgust over the Catholic Church's clerical abuse scandal and opposition from secularists and those opposed to the church's stance against homosexuality and its ban on using condoms to fight the spread of AIDS. News of the arrests came as the pope was meeting representatives of other religions, including Muslims and Jews, and stressing the need for mutual respect, tolerance and freedom to follow one's conscience even after conversion from another religion. The Vatican said the pope was informed of the arrests and was pleased he could stick to his schedule.
