Police arrest sixth man during pope visit

Police officers wait outside Lambeth Palace before the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in London September 17, 2010. London police said on Friday anti-terrorism officers had arrested five men suspected of preparing an attack, the arrests coming while Pope Benedict was in London during a state visit to Britain.

LONDON (Reuters) - Police said on Friday they had arrested a sixth man on suspicion of preparing an attack, expanding a counter-terrorism operation during Pope Benedict's visit to London.

Anti-terrorism police had earlier arrested five street cleaners who worked in the area of central London where the pontiff spoke on Friday afternoon.

The sixth man, aged 29, was arrested on Friday afternoon at a home in north London, the police said. They said they were searching eight homes in north and east London and two businesses in central London.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Peter Graff)