Authorities in Germany have arrested five men suspected of being involved in a plot to drive a vehicle into people at a Christmas market. The suspects, including three Moroccans, an Egyptian, and a Syrian, were detained in the southern Bavarian state, with officials suggesting an 'Islamist motive' behind the plan.
Prosecutors revealed that the Egyptian man, aged 56, had allegedly called for a vehicle attack aimed at killing or injuring as many people as possible, with the three Moroccan suspects agreeing to carry out the attack. The authorities have remained vigilant following previous attacks on Christmas markets, including one in Magdeburg last December that resulted in six fatalities.
While details regarding the specific time of the planned attack or the exact market targeted have not been disclosed, it is believed to be located in the Dingolfing-Landau area, northeast of Munich. Reports indicate that the Egyptian was an imam at a local mosque.
The Moroccan suspects, aged 30, 28, and 22, face accusations of conspiracy to commit murder, while the 37-year-old Syrian is accused of encouraging the crime. All five suspects were arraigned before a magistrate and are currently held in custody.
Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, emphasized the collaborative efforts of security services in thwarting what he termed a potentially Islamist-motivated attack. Given the popularity of Christmas markets in Germany, which attract large crowds and tourists, security protocols have been tightened in recent years following a deadly incident in Berlin in 2016 where a man drove a lorry into a market crowd, killing 12.
Prosecutors revealed that the Egyptian man, aged 56, had allegedly called for a vehicle attack aimed at killing or injuring as many people as possible, with the three Moroccan suspects agreeing to carry out the attack. The authorities have remained vigilant following previous attacks on Christmas markets, including one in Magdeburg last December that resulted in six fatalities.
While details regarding the specific time of the planned attack or the exact market targeted have not been disclosed, it is believed to be located in the Dingolfing-Landau area, northeast of Munich. Reports indicate that the Egyptian was an imam at a local mosque.
The Moroccan suspects, aged 30, 28, and 22, face accusations of conspiracy to commit murder, while the 37-year-old Syrian is accused of encouraging the crime. All five suspects were arraigned before a magistrate and are currently held in custody.
Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, emphasized the collaborative efforts of security services in thwarting what he termed a potentially Islamist-motivated attack. Given the popularity of Christmas markets in Germany, which attract large crowds and tourists, security protocols have been tightened in recent years following a deadly incident in Berlin in 2016 where a man drove a lorry into a market crowd, killing 12.
