Germany says foils Islamist plot to attack Christmas market
In a statement made by police and prosecutors, it was stated that an Egyptian, three Moroccans and a Syrian were detained for a plan to carry out an attack in the southern Bavarian state on Friday.
According to the statement, the 56-year-old Egyptian allegedly called for a mosque to attack a market in the Dingolfing-Landau region “using a vehicle to kill or injure as many people as possible.”
Allegedly, Moroccans aged 30, 28 and 22 agreed to carry out the attack, while a 37-year-old Syrian encouraged them.
Investigators suspect the plot stemmed from an “Islamist motive.”
All of the detained suspects were referred to the courthouse and arrested on Saturday.
German authorities were on high alert for attacks on Christmas markets after six people died and hundreds were injured when a car crashed into a market in the city of Magdeburg last year.
