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Three suspected Isis operatives arrested at German refugee shelters Three suspected Isis operatives arrested at German refugee shelters
(35 minutes later)
Three men have been arrested at refugee shelters in Germany on suspicion of being Islamic State operatives planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe, police said. Three men have been arrested at refugee shelters in Germany on suspicion of being Islamic State operatives planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe, police have said.
The specialist GSG 9 anti-terrorism unit raided three addresses in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, where they seized phones, computer hard drives and files used by the alleged sleeper cell. There were no indications of any concrete plans for an attack.The specialist GSG 9 anti-terrorism unit raided three addresses in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, where they seized phones, computer hard drives and files used by the alleged sleeper cell. There were no indications of any concrete plans for an attack.
The German interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, said there were possible links between the men – who have been identified as Syrian asylum seekers – and people involved in the Paris attacks last November.The German interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, said there were possible links between the men – who have been identified as Syrian asylum seekers – and people involved in the Paris attacks last November.
They had been under surveillance for several months following a tipoff received by Germany’s domestic intelligence unit, the BKA, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor in Karlsruhe said.They had been under surveillance for several months following a tipoff received by Germany’s domestic intelligence unit, the BKA, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor in Karlsruhe said.
About 200 special forces were involved in the dawn raid, which De Maizière said was part of an “extraordinary police operation, requiring enormous amount of energy”. He said the operation proved that the security services were “operating in a decisive way to secure the safety of all Germans”.About 200 special forces were involved in the dawn raid, which De Maizière said was part of an “extraordinary police operation, requiring enormous amount of energy”. He said the operation proved that the security services were “operating in a decisive way to secure the safety of all Germans”.
The prosecutor’s office said investigations so far suggested the men, aged between 17 and 26, arrived in Germany in mid-November 2015 on the orders of Isis, rather than having been recruited in Germany. They were either served with an order to carry out a specific attack or were waiting for further instructions, it said. The prosecutor’s office said investigations so far suggested the men, aged between 17 and 26, arrived in the country in mid-November 2015 on the orders of Isis, rather than having been recruited in Germany. They were either served with an order to carry out a specific attack or were waiting for further instructions, it said.
The suspects are believed to have sworn allegiance to Isis at the end of September 2015 at the latest, in the Syrian city of Raqqa. They are alleged to have received brief training in weaponry and explosives before pledging to carry out operations and attacks in Europe on behalf of Isis.The suspects are believed to have sworn allegiance to Isis at the end of September 2015 at the latest, in the Syrian city of Raqqa. They are alleged to have received brief training in weaponry and explosives before pledging to carry out operations and attacks in Europe on behalf of Isis.
The terrorist organisation allegedly arranged passports for them, and gave them four-figure sum bundles of US dollars as well as mobile phones with pre-installed communication programmes.The terrorist organisation allegedly arranged passports for them, and gave them four-figure sum bundles of US dollars as well as mobile phones with pre-installed communication programmes.
The men are said to have travelled from Turkey to Greece on the same refugee boat that allegedly carried other known Isis terrorists, including two men who blew themselves up in front of the Stade de France during the November Paris attacks.The men are said to have travelled from Turkey to Greece on the same refugee boat that allegedly carried other known Isis terrorists, including two men who blew themselves up in front of the Stade de France during the November Paris attacks.
The men who were arrested on Tuesday made their way to Germany from Greece via the so-called Balkans route, investigators said, adding that the known terrorists who arrived on the refugee boat were carrying passports made in the same workshop.The men who were arrested on Tuesday made their way to Germany from Greece via the so-called Balkans route, investigators said, adding that the known terrorists who arrived on the refugee boat were carrying passports made in the same workshop.
Security services have been on high alert since three attacks in July carried out by asylum seekers, two of which were believed to be politically motivated.Security services have been on high alert since three attacks in July carried out by asylum seekers, two of which were believed to be politically motivated.
De Maizière said that Germany remained on high alert. “Some operatives are working on their own others are spontaneously inspired by other attacks, then there are returnees from crisis zones,” he said, adding there were also “hit teams” who travelled from the Middle East to Europe with a view to carrying out attacks.De Maizière said that Germany remained on high alert. “Some operatives are working on their own others are spontaneously inspired by other attacks, then there are returnees from crisis zones,” he said, adding there were also “hit teams” who travelled from the Middle East to Europe with a view to carrying out attacks.
He warned against regarding all refugees as suspected terrorists: “It is wrong to put refugees under general suspicion. But the fact is we do have refugees who come here as potential terrorists or sympathisers.” He said the police welcomed any information about any suspected terrorists. He warned against regarding all refugees as suspected terrorists, saying: “It is wrong to put refugees under general suspicion. But the fact is we do have refugees who come here as potential terrorists or sympathisers.” He said the police welcomed any information about any suspected terrorists.
The arrests follow a similar raid on asylum seeker homes in June, when three Syrians were arrested on suspicion of planning a suicide attack in Düsseldorf.The arrests follow a similar raid on asylum seeker homes in June, when three Syrians were arrested on suspicion of planning a suicide attack in Düsseldorf.
Police say they have received about 400 tipoffs from people voicing suspicions that refugees were planning terrorist attacks. Most have been unfounded, they said, but they are continuing to investigate about 60 cases. Police say they have received about 400 tipoffs from people voicing suspicions that refugees were planning terrorist attacks. Most have been unfounded, they say, but they are continuing to investigate about 60 cases.