The hunt for three German nationals, said to be members of the Red Army Faction terrorist group, resulted in the high profile arrest of two German tourists earlier this week, the Telegraaf reported.

Reports that the tourists resembled the terrorists, who are wanted for six supermarket heists and two money transport lorry hold-ups, led to a major police operation in Medemblik in Noord Holland on Wednesday afternoon.

Police turned out in force, sealing off an area and bringing in a helicopter to make the arrests. The three people, two men and a woman, were staying in a holiday house in the area. Police moved in when two of them left the building and arrested them at a local supermarket.

It was only after talking to them, and following confirmation from the German police, that the Dutch police realised they had made a mistake and returned the holidaymakers to their rented house.

Police told the Telegraaf they have no regrets about such a high profile arrest procedure but regret the fact that three innocent tourists were involved. They are still in talks with their victims, the Telegraaf said.