Anti-terror operation in the Ruhr area: no toxins found during search

After the arrest of a terrorist suspect in Castrop-Rauxel, the search of the apartment has been completed. There was no evidence of toxins there. Federal Interior Minister Faeser warns of a continuing danger from Islamist terror.

During the night in the Ruhr area, investigators arrested a man because of possible attack plans and searched his apartment. No toxins were found, as the Düsseldorf public prosecutor announced. The investigators had confiscated storage media. These would now have to be evaluated, according to senior public prosecutor Holger Heming.

The Iranian is suspected of having procured cyanide and ricin. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul said after the operation that there had been “a serious indication” that “caused the police to intervene that night”.

Preparation of an Islamist-motivated terrorist attack

In addition to the 32-year-old, his brother was also arrested in the apartment during the night, said a police spokeswoman. According to Heming, it is still being checked whether there is a connection with the allegations.

According to media reports, the Federal Criminal Police Office has been investigating the case for several days. According to “Bild”, a “friend of the secret service” is said to have warned the German security authorities about the risk of a chemical bomb attack.

Ricin is classified as a weapon of war

Police, fire brigade and rescue workers were on site with a large contingent. Because cyanide and ricin are highly toxic, the evidence was taken to a special investigation site in blue drums.

According to a report by “Bild”, RKI employees were also on site as consultants because of the biological and chemical dangers for the emergency services. Several employees of the Federal Criminal Police Office and a defuse squad were also deployed.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), ricin is listed under “biological weapons” in the war weapons list. Depending on the type of intake, the poisoning is fatal – after just 36 to 72 hours. Cyanide is also highly toxic, even the smallest amounts are fatal to humans.

Faeser warns of Islamist terror

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned of the ongoing threat of Islamist terror in view of the arrest. “Germany continues to be in the immediate target range of Islamist terrorist organizations,” said the SPD politician in Berlin. Islamist-motivated individual perpetrators are another significant danger. “Our security authorities are therefore anticipating preparations for an attack at any time,” she added. Since the year 2000, the security authorities have prevented 21 Islamist attacks.

The terrorism expert Peter Neumann also sees the possible attack plans as proof that the Islamist threat in Germany still exists. “This threat is less than it was six or seven years ago, but it still exists. You shouldn’t forget that,” said the professor at King’s College in London at the exam of the CSU members of the Bundestag in the Bavarian Seeon monastery.