AMSTERDAM: Dutch prosecutors say police have arrested three Muslim men who wanted to travel to Syria to fight in the country’s civil war.

Prosecutors announced yesterday the men, aged 22, 23 and 33, were arrested Thursday in the port city of Rotterdam “because they planned to travel to Syria to take part in international armed Jihad.” They did not specify if the men were Dutch.

A search of their home uncovered knives, a sword and a crossbow.

The men’s identities were not released in line with Dutch privacy law. They were due to be arraigned Friday by an investigating judge in Rotterdam.

Syria’s President Bashar Assad blames the 20-month revolt in his country on foreign “terrorists.”