A man suspected of having ties to the Islamic State has been arrested for allegedly planning a firearm attack on the Israeli embassy in Berlin. Reports indicate that an elite armed police unit executed a raid on the suspect’s apartment in Bernau, located just outside the German capital. This operation follows government statements confirming that authorities successfully thwarted a potential attack.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the detained individual is a Libyan national identified only as Omar A. The statement outlined that he intended to carry out a significant armed attack on the Israeli embassy. During the planning phase, he was said to have engaged with an Islamic State member via a messaging platform.
In addition to the arrest, authorities conducted a search at the residence of another individual deemed a witness but not a suspect. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser commented, “Our security authorities acted promptly to prevent possible plans to attack the Israeli Embassy in Berlin,” emphasizing the importance of protecting Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany.
The suspect is scheduled to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany’s highest court. According to the newspaper Bild, German authorities were alerted to this threat by a foreign intelligence agency, leading to the decisive action taken.
Minister Faeser further noted the need for heightened vigilance in light of rising threats from Islamist, antisemitic, and anti-Israel violence. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor expressed gratitude to German security services for their efforts in ensuring the safety of the embassy.
Credit: Sky News
