Germany: six arrested over Christmas market terror plot

Six Syrians, 'suspected of being members of the foriegn terrorist organisation that calls itself the Islamic State', were arrested in connection the planning of a terror attack on a German Christmas market

Christmas market in Berlin (Photo: TrivSavvy)
Christmas market in Berlin (Photo: TrivSavvy)

Six Syrian nationals were arrested on Tuesday by German police, in connection with the planning of a terrorist attack on a German Christmas market, according to local media.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt said that the six Syrians, all of whom had applied for asylum in Germany, “are suspected of being members of the foreign terrorist organisation that calls itself the Islamic State,” reported Reuters.

“The accused are also suspected of having planned an attack against a public target in Germany either using weapons or explosives.”

According to Hessischer Rundfunk, German public broadcaster, which cited sources close to the investigation, the group planned an attack on a market in the city of Essen in north Rhine-Westphalia, though this is yet to be confirmed by prosecutors.

Around 500 policemen in four federal states were involved in raids which led to the arrest of the men, who are said to be between the ages of 20 and 28. Four of the suspects arrived in the country in December 2014 and the other two arrived in the following years.

The arrests come just a month before the first anniversary of the Christmas market attack in Berlin, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people.