Alleged terror plot in Somalia thwarted

HARGEISA, Somalia, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Somalia security officials say they thwarted a plot to attack a peace conference in the country's Somaliland region.

The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported Friday the alleged terror plot targeted a conference last weekend in Hargeisa, Somalia, organized by the Finnish Lutheran Church's foreign aid branch, Finn Church Aid.

Finn Church Aid Executive Director Antti Pentikainen said the alleged plot was uncovered after event organizers noticed two suspicious men traveling with the nearly 30 participating clan leaders.

"Their room was searched, and explosives suitable for use in a suicide attack were found in their possession," Pentikainen said of unidentified terror suspects.

Despite the discovery of the alleged terror plot, last Sunday's conference in the Somaliland town took place as scheduled.

Pentikainen told Helsingin Sanomat the incident at the Finn Church Aid gathering will serve as an important lesson in terms of security at future events.

"When we have collected all information about this event, we will ponder how the risks could be minimized in the future," he told the Finnish newspaper.