German state security has reportedly prevented a suspected Islamist terror attack on a Christmas market in Schleswig-Holstein.
Confirmed Police Operation
According to the German news outlet Bild and Tag24, a 17-year-old suspect was arrested last Wednesday in the town of Elmshorn.
A spokesperson from the state criminal police, Landeskriminalamt, confirmed the police operation to Tag24, though specific details were not provided.
Further information from the Flensburg public prosecutor’s office is pending, as they were not immediately available for comment.
The young suspect allegedly planned to drive a truck into a crowded area, though the exact details of the plot are still unclear.
Bernd Winterfeldt, a senior prosecutor, stated to Bild that they are investigating the case under suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence that threatens state security.
The suspect is also under investigation for conspiracy to commit murder. Following the arrest, the 17-year-old has been placed in pre-trial detention.
Key intelligence leading to the arrest reportedly came from a U.S. intelligence agency.
The timely information helped German authorities to take swift action, potentially averting a devastating attack. Further investigation is ongoing as authorities work to understand the full extent of the alleged plot.
