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Five detained in Bavaria over suspected Islamist attack plan
German authorities arrested three Moroccans, an Egyptian, and a Syrian on Friday, accusing them of plotting to ram a vehicle into a crowded Christmas market in southern Bavaria. Prosecutors suspect an Islamist motive behind the alleged scheme.
Alleged plot details
The 56-year-old Egyptian man is accused of urging the attack with the intent to kill or injure as many people as possible, according to prosecutors. The three Moroccan suspects-aged 30, 28, and 22-are alleged to have agreed to carry out the assault. A 37-year-old Syrian man is accused of reinforcing the group's decision to proceed.
Investigators have not disclosed the planned date or exact location of the attack but believe the target was a market in the Dingolfing-Landau district, northeast of Munich. German media reported the Egyptian suspect served as an imam at a local mosque.
Security response and background
Bavarian authorities remain on high alert following past attacks on Christmas markets, including a December 2024 incident in Magdeburg that left six dead. Security measures at festive events have intensified since a 2016 Berlin attack, where a truck plowed into a market crowd, killing 12.
"Excellent cooperation between our security services" helped prevent a "potentially Islamist-motivated attack," said Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria's interior minister.
Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian Interior Minister
Legal proceedings
The five suspects appeared before a magistrate on Saturday and remain in custody. Prosecutors charged the Moroccan men with conspiracy to commit murder, while the Syrian suspect faces accusations of inciting the crime.
Context of Christmas markets in Germany
Christmas markets are a major cultural attraction in Germany, drawing large crowds and significant tourism. Authorities have ramped up security at such events in recent years due to the persistent threat of vehicular attacks.
