Arrests in North Rhine-Westphalia
attacks planned? – Islamist terror cell dismantled
Those arrested are said to have had the aim of “carrying out high-profile attacks in Germany in the spirit of IS”. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
Targets in Germany scouted out, possible crime scenes explored – a suspected terrorist cell has been exposed. Seven suspects are arrested, two more in the Netherlands.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office in North Rhine-Westphalia has a suspected Islamist Terror cell uncovered and seven suspects arrested.
The men are accused of founding a terrorist organization in Germany and planning attacks, according to the highest German prosecutor. They are also said to have supported the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). Another man and his wife were reportedly arrested by Dutch authorities.
Detainees from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan
The men arrested in Germany are suspects from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. They have a radical Islamic attitude. Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, they entered Germany together and formed a terrorist organization. The aim was “to perpetrate high-profile attacks in Germany in the spirit of IS,” it said.
Contacted members of a regional IS affiliate
One of the men arrested in the Netherlands also belonged to the association. The group was in contact with members of the regional IS branch “Islamic State Province of Khorasan” (ISPK). Possible targets of attacks in Germany have already been targeted and possible crime scenes have been scouted out. In addition, the accused had tried to procure weapons. However, there has not yet been a concrete attack plan.
The accused should be brought before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in Karlsruhe later that day and on Friday.