In Stockholm, 'three Swedish citizens, all men' were arrested on suspicion of financing and planning attacks, a Swedish police spokesman said, providing no details on their identities.

In Oslo, three people 'suspected of financing acts of terrorism abroad' were arrested, police said.

According to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet's online edition, the three arrested in Oslo were all of African origin.

Security services in both Scandinavian countries have previously said Sweden and Norway are believed to be bases for support groups for extremists, providing financing and logistical support or recruiting.

In a report on the threat level in Norway published last month, the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) said there were support networks for Islamic terrorism present in the Scandinavian country. 'The support activities in Norway primarily involve money transfers to individuals or groups abroad who are believed to be linked to radical Islamist organisations,' it said.

The PST yesterday refused to say whether the trio arrested in Oslo were linked to Islamist organisations.

Swedish police said the arrests in Stockholm were not related to Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who has received Al-Qaeda death threats after drawing a newspaper cartoon of Prophet Muhammad.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS