Sunday, January 26, 2025, 5:10AM |  38°
MENU
Advertisement
Police stand in front of a home in the courtyard of a building where suspected Salafist Islamist extremists are believed to live, in Oberursel near Frankfurt, Germany, today.
1
MORE

Report: German police foil planned Islamist attack near Frankfurt

Ralph Orlowski/Reuters

Report: German police foil planned Islamist attack near Frankfurt

FRANKFURT -- Police in Germany have thwarted a planned Islamist attack after detaining a couple with suspected Salafist militant links, one of whom was seen along the route of a popular May Day cycle race in Frankfurt, officials said on Thursday.

Public prosecutor Albrecht Schreiber said a search of their home had turned up an automatic assault weapon, 100 rounds of live ammunition, chemicals commonly used in preparing home-made bombs and a canister full of petrol.

“Investigations by the police indicate that we have been able to prevent a terrorist attack,” Peter Beuth, the interior minister of Hesse, told reporters. “This incident shows that we must all remain very alert.”

Advertisement

The 35-year-old man had dual Turkish-German citizenship and a criminal record, said Hesse police Chief Stefan Mueller. His wife was Turkish and two young children found in their home by police were being cared for by social services.

Police decided to detain the man after he was seen buying large amounts of chemicals which can be used to make explosives - using a false name. He was also seen along the route of Frankfurt's May 1 cycle race, which attracts thousands of participants and spectators every year.

Asked if he suspected the pair had been preparing an attack similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing which killed three people and injured more than 260 spectators, Mueller said:

“Clearly since the Boston Marathon these security concerns have been part of the considerations of how to deal with that (danger) before every marathon race in Germany - and that is also valid for cycle races.”

Advertisement

German newspaper Die Welt identified the couple by their first names and initial - Halil and Senay D. - and said they had links to the Salafist scene in Frankfurt and to the al Qaeda network. It did not identify the source for its report.

Salafists advocate a puritanical form of Islam and Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency says their numbers are rising, as is the number of potential recruits for Islamic State.

The BfV estimates that 450 people from Germany have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join radical jihadist forces.

First Published: April 30, 2015, 12:01 p.m.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
Around 450,000 Pennsylvanians enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year, but credits expire at the end of 2025, which will mean dramatic premium hikes in 2026 unless Congress votes for an extension.
1
business
Crunch time: 450K Pennsylvanians with Obamacare could see dramatic spikes in health care costs
Bill Sunseri, president of Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., stands in his family’s store on Jan. 6 in the Strip District.
2
life
Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. has a new full owner at the helm
Meredith Miller of Upper St. Clair.
3
news
Woman who died in Upper St. Clair fire remembered as devoted churchgoer and teacher
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Joey Daccord #35 of the Seattle Kraken clears the puck against Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena on January 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
4
sports
Snake-bitten Penguins lose Evgeni Malkin to injury in defeat to Kraken
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, middle, sits between assistant secondary coach Anthony Midget, left, and secondary coach Grady Brown, right, before taking on the Eagles Dec. 15, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
5
sports
How does Steelers coaching staff compare to NFL's best? Lean, broadly defined and working double time
Police stand in front of a home in the courtyard of a building where suspected Salafist Islamist extremists are believed to live, in Oberursel near Frankfurt, Germany, today.  (Ralph Orlowski/Reuters)
Ralph Orlowski/Reuters
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story