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Islamic State group: German raids net Algerian suspects | |
(5 days later) | |
German police have arrested two Algerians suspected of planning an attack and having links to the militant group, Islamic State (IS). | German police have arrested two Algerians suspected of planning an attack and having links to the militant group, Islamic State (IS). |
One of the men was arrested in the capital Berlin and the other in a town close to Cologne, in west Germany. | One of the men was arrested in the capital Berlin and the other in a town close to Cologne, in west Germany. |
Police seized computers, mobile phones and sketches in the raids but did not find a "smoking gun", prosecutors' spokesman Martin Steltner said. | Police seized computers, mobile phones and sketches in the raids but did not find a "smoking gun", prosecutors' spokesman Martin Steltner said. |
About 450 officers were involved in the raids. | About 450 officers were involved in the raids. |
One of the men detained, reported to be aged 35, had been living in a refugee shelter in the town of Attendorn, east of Cologne, and is wanted by the Algerian authorities for alleged links to IS. | One of the men detained, reported to be aged 35, had been living in a refugee shelter in the town of Attendorn, east of Cologne, and is wanted by the Algerian authorities for alleged links to IS. |
Police said "investigations show that he has been trained militarily in Syria". | Police said "investigations show that he has been trained militarily in Syria". |
The man's wife, also wanted by Algeria, was detained at the same time but prosecutors said she was not a suspect in the German case. | The man's wife, also wanted by Algeria, was detained at the same time but prosecutors said she was not a suspect in the German case. |
The suspect held in Berlin was arrested on suspicion of falsifying identity documents, police said. | The suspect held in Berlin was arrested on suspicion of falsifying identity documents, police said. |
Two other Algerians in Germany, said by police to be "from the jihadist scene", were tracked down but not arrested. | Two other Algerians in Germany, said by police to be "from the jihadist scene", were tracked down but not arrested. |
"Our understanding is that the four men accused could have planned to carry out an attack together," Mr Steltner said. | "Our understanding is that the four men accused could have planned to carry out an attack together," Mr Steltner said. |
German media said the possible targets included central Berlin tourist sites Checkpoint Charlie and Alexanderplatz. | German media said the possible targets included central Berlin tourist sites Checkpoint Charlie and Alexanderplatz. |
Since January, the suspects had changed their mobile phones multiple times and communicated using instant messaging services, reports said. | Since January, the suspects had changed their mobile phones multiple times and communicated using instant messaging services, reports said. |
Germany's security concerns have risen since the Paris attacks last year. | Germany's security concerns have risen since the Paris attacks last year. |
Officials declined to comment on a report in the Tagesspiegel newspaper, citing security sources, which said senior IS figures had ordered an attack on Germany. | Officials declined to comment on a report in the Tagesspiegel newspaper, citing security sources, which said senior IS figures had ordered an attack on Germany. |
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