BERLIN - Germany claimed yesterday it crushed a terror cell led by a London-based cleric linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, arresting 11 suspected Islamic militants in raids throughout the country.

Meanwhile, an Algerian defendant admitted in a Frankfurt court that he was involved in a plot to bomb a synagogue in France two years ago.

Police said those arrested in raids in 10 cities throughout the country yesterday belonged to a Palestinian group identified as Al Tawhid that was plotting attacks in Germany.

"We've managed to smash a cell which ... particularly against the background of the grave conflict in the Middle East, stood on the brink of attacks in Germany," federal prosecutor Kay Nehm said. "We think we've managed to prevent some things that were being prepared."

In television interviews, Nehm identified the spiritual leader of the group as Abu Qatadah, a Muslim cleric identified by U.S. and European officials as having links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization.

A Jordanian of Palestinian descent, Qatadah was convicted in absentia in 2000 by a military court in Jordan on charges of conspiring to attack U.S. and Israeli targets. He was protected by British law from extradition, but, in February, British anti-terrorism experts said Qatadah had disappeared.

German prosecutors said yesterday that the suspects in custody were part of a "secret international network" and had mainly provided false travel documents, collected donations and arranged travel for Islamic fighters in Afghanistan. During the raids, police seized computers, documents and material used to falsify passports.