Germany Detains Three Youths for Alleged Terrorism Plot, Targets Include Churches and Police Precincts

 

German Police

Over the Easter holidays, an arrest order was issued for three youths by the prosecution body specializing in terrorism cases.

"In a recent operation, German law enforcement apprehended three teenagers under the suspicion that they were devising a terror attack motivated by Islamist beliefs.

A press release on Friday revealed that the individuals apprehended, comprising two females aged 15 and 16, and a male aged 15, are under strong suspicion of concocting and committing to execute an Islamist-motivated terrorism plot.

Reports from Alj Jazeera indicate these teenagers hail from the Dusseldorf area located in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It's suspected they were scheming to commit murder and manslaughter while also arranging to perpetrate a significant violent act threatening the security of the state, as per the announcement.

The prosecution body specializing in terrorism cases in the state requested the detention of these youths during the Easter period.

While the group had initiated a chat group and had yet to finalize a specific time or location for their intended actions, investigative authorities acknowledged the immediate threat they posed.

Details on the specific nature of the planned acts or their level of preparation remain undisclosed by officials, attributed to the ongoing investigation and the juveniles' tender ages.

However, according to the Bild newspaper, the trio is accused of plotting attacks against churchgoers and police precincts using knives and firebombs, inspired by the ISIL (ISIS) ideology.

The report also mentioned that the adolescents were deliberating over the possibility of acquiring firearms.

Earlier in January, German officials had detained three individuals over a suspected plan to target the Cologne cathedral during New Year's Eve celebrations.

Additionally, the previous month saw the arrest of two Afghan nationals, purportedly connected to ISIL, for allegedly planning an assault on police officers near the Swedish parliament as a retaliatory act to the desecration of Quran copies.

Northern German police announced a reward of 5,000 euros (,330) on Thursday for any information regarding a suspected arson on a synagogue in Oldenburg the previous week.

"ISIL's anonymous online sympathizers and media platforms have also issued threats against football stadiums across Europe, including Germany. An ISIL-associated media outlet even posted an image featuring a red target marker on crowds outside Munich's Allianz Arena before a significant match in late March.

Despite threats from the group against European Champions League matches held this week, the events in London, Paris, and Madrid proceeded with heightened security measures in place.