Kenya holds Germans, Dutch for suspected terrorism

By Wangui Kanina

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Two German men and a Dutch woman who entered Kenya as journalists have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism after being found with photos of "vital installations", police said on Friday.

"Although they entered the country as journalists they have been conducting themselves in a suspicious manner," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told reporters.

"We are investigating materials recovered from them. Some of them include photographs of vital installations," he added, without giving further details.

"The suspects ... have been arrested with suspicion of terrorist activities," Kiraithe said.

Kiraithe said the two Germans -- Gerd Uwe Hauth and Andrej Hermlin -- and Fleur Van Dissel, a Dutch national, were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The German and Dutch foreign ministries confirmed the arrests. "The embassy is in touch with local authorities to try to ensure they are released quickly," a German foreign ministry spokesman said.

A spokeswoman for the Dutch foreign ministry said their embassy had been in contact with Van Dissel to help her deal with the Kenyan authorities.

She added that the Dutch ambassador had spoken to the Kenyan foreign minister to ensure she would be treated well.