The German police arrested two minors, aged 15 and 16, on Tuesday on suspicion that they were preparing to commit an Islamist attack, as reported by the authorities today. The Prosecutor's Offices of Düsseldorf (west) and Neuruppin (east), places of residence of the two young people, have opened proceedings on suspicion of planning a terrorist crime.
Several German media have explained that the two teenagers were in contact through a messaging service, in which they had exchanged ideas to attack with incendiary devices or a truck. Among the possible targets were a Christmas market or a synagogue in the city of Cologne (west).
The WDR television network has explained that what precipitated the arrests was that one of the detainees had called for a "holy war" in a video posted on the Telegram application and had announced an attack for next Friday. In addition, both are sympathizers of the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS).
In relation to this event, this Wednesday, the president of the German secret interior services, Thomas Haldenwang, warned that the risk of Islamist attacks at this time is "as high as it has not been in a long time."
The danger has experienced "a qualitative change" as a result of the Gaza war, since the videos spread on social networks about the suffering of the Palestinians can contribute to "radicalizing" young people residing in Germany, he said.
