Man held over anti-Pope crowd plot

Spanish police have arrested a chemistry student suspected of planning a gas attack against protesters opposed to a visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

The pontiff is due to arrive tomorrow for a four-day visit, and a protest march is planned in Madrid this evening.

A police official said the suspect is a Mexican exchange student specialising in organic chemistry. The official did not give his name or age. He was arrested in Madrid yesterday.

Police said in a statement that he planned to attack anti-Pope protesters with “suffocating gases” and other chemicals.

It said he was in Madrid to study at Spain’s top government research body, the Spanish National Research Council.