12 arrested as US plane turned back [+ video]

AMSTERDAM - Dutch police arrested 12 passengers on a US Northwest Airlines plane bound for India which was forced to turn back to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport today, news agency ANP reported.

ANP quoted a police spokesman as saying 12 were arrested, but declined to give further details due to the ongoing investigation.

Police officials were not immediately available to comment.

The Dutch Defence Ministry said earlier the pilot decided to turn back after the crew said several of the 149 passengers on flight 42 to Mumbai were behaving suspiciously.

Security has been increased at airports worldwide in the last two weeks after British police said they had foiled a plot by British Muslims to blow up planes in the mid-Atlantic using liquid explosives disguised as drinks.

- REUTERS