Poles arrest foreigner for possession of explosives days before World Youth Day

A court spokesman in central Poland says that a 48-year-old foreigner, probably an Iraqi, has been arrested on charges of possessing explosives.

The arrest on Sunday in Lodz took place just days before Pope Francis comes to Poland to meet with hundreds of thousands of young people from around the globe for celebrations of the World Youth Day. Poland’s Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak says the gatherings will be safe.

Pawel Urbaniak, spokesman for a Lodz court, said Monday that the man’s identity is still being confirmed but he is probably an Iraqi, judging by the “very basic” documents of he had. The man has no permanent address in Poland.

Blaszczak says Border Guards have denied entry to some 200 people since July 4.

People attending Pope Francis’s meetings with world youth in Poland have been told to expect detailed security checks before entering, Polish police has said.

A number of big events will be held in Krakow and nearby in southern Poland during the World Youth Day celebrations from July 27-31.

For a full schedule of World Youth Day events, go here.