German authorities detain 22-year-old Syrian suspect in Berlin for allegedly preparing a jihadist-motivated terrorist attack
BERLIN: German authorities have arrested a 22-year-old Syrian man in Berlin on suspicion of preparing a jihadist attack.
The suspect was taken into custody on Saturday in the capital’s southern Neukoelln district.
He appeared before an investigating judge on Sunday and was ordered to remain in custody.
A joint statement from Berlin police and prosecutors said he is suspected of preparing serious violence against the state.
The suspect is also accused of spreading propaganda material from anti-constitutional and terrorist organisations.
A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office confirmed the man was alleged to have plotted a jihadist-motivated attack.
The newspaper Bild reported that police searches of three Berlin addresses linked to the suspect found items potentially usable for building explosives.
The daily stated the alleged plot was believed to be targeting Berlin, though no further details have emerged.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the arrest demonstrates that Germany’s terrorist threat remains heightened.
He confirmed the Syrian had been in Germany since 2023 and that his suspicious activities were detected in time.
Germany has experienced several recent knife attacks with both jihadist and far-right motives.
Berlin maintains heightened security vigilance following the deadly 2016 Christmas market truck attack that killed twelve people. – AFP
